country
Americannoun
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a state or nation.
What European countries have you visited?
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the territory of a nation.
The country is about 150 miles long.
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the people of a district, state, or nation.
The whole country backed the president in his decision.
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the land of one's birth or citizenship.
Do I need to return to my country to apply for a student visa?
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the country, rural districts, including farmland, parkland, and other sparsely populated areas, as opposed to cities or towns.
Many city dwellers like to spend their vacations in the country.
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any considerable territory demarcated by topographical conditions, by a distinctive population, etc..
The mountainous country around here is beautiful.
The book takes place in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.
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land considered apart from any geographical or political limits.
This urban population is packed into a relatively small patch of country.
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Law. the public at large, as represented by a jury.
adjective
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of, from, or characteristic of the country; rural.
They lived on a winding country road.
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of, relating to, or associated with country music.
That Nashville station plays country records all day long.
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rude; unpolished; rustic.
He was scorned for his country manners.
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of, from, or relating to a particular nation or area; national.
Each team will display their country flag during the opening ceremony.
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Obsolete. of one's own country.
idioms
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go to the country, to dissolve a Parliament and call for an election after members have cast a majority vote expressing a lack of confidence in the prime minister and cabinet. Also appeal to the country.
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put oneself upon the / one's country, to present one's cause formally before a jury.
noun
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a territory distinguished by its people, culture, language, geography, etc
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an area of land distinguished by its political autonomy; state
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the people of a territory or state
the whole country rebelled
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an area associated with a particular person
Burns country
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the part of the land that is away from cities or industrial areas; rural districts
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( as modifier )
country cottage
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( in combination )
a countryman
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short for country music
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archaic a particular locality or district
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away from the coast or the capital
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one's native land or nation of citizenship
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informal the outlying area or area furthest from the finish of a sports ground or racecourse
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(modifier) rough; uncouth; rustic
country manners
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not keeping to roads, etc
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to dissolve Parliament and hold an election
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an unfamiliar topic, place, matter, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of country
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English cuntree from Anglo-French, Old French from unrecorded Vulgar Latin (regiō) contrāta “(area) opposite,” from Latin contr(ā) counter 3 + -āta (feminine of -ātus -ate 1 ); compare German Gegend “region,” derivative of gegen against
Explanation
A country is a nation, a body of land with one government. Also, rural areas outside cities and towns are called the country. There are many countries in the world: places that have a central government and a common identity. America was once just a bunch of colonies of England. It wasn't until they fought for independence from England that America became a country. Also, "the country" is any place that's away from cities and rural: the country has farms and open spaces. Country life is quieter than city life — except for the early morning roosters.
Vocabulary lists containing country
Crossing Between Cultures, Part 1
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The Age of Jackson and Westward Expansion, Lessons 3–5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A severe tropical storm moved towards Tokyo on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of floods after torrential rain battered swathes of the country and prompted calls to evacuate for hundreds of thousands of people.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
Brooks’ popularity is largely U.S.-centric and country music’s success is heavily domestic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
For a country seeking foreign investment, more than four years of war with its neighbour doesn't seem the best advertisement.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
On Monday in Dallas, Mullin said he would pull Customs officers from airports around the country to help with the security in Newark, if it became necessary.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
“I think it’s going to blow the whole country away. I bet my playhouse is a mess, and I had it looking so pretty.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
