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motherland

American  
[muhth-er-land] / ˈmʌð ərˌlænd /

noun

  1. one's native land.

  2. the land of one's ancestors.

  3. a country considered as the origin or source of something.

motherland British  
/ ˈmʌðəˌlænd /

noun

  1. another word for fatherland

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of motherland

First recorded in 1705–15; mother 1 + land

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.

The team has as many members from outside the country’s borders as players born in the motherland.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

His 2025 juggernaut, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” however, goes far beyond the usual motherland worship; the album’s greatest takeaway is to cherish not just the place, but the people you call home, too.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Zhang Lu told reporters on Thursday he was confident his team would "report back to our motherland and its people with complete success".

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

Her work is motivated by all who are learning about their history and taking action to heal the wounds of war for their families and their motherland.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2025

We had missed our chance to become national heroes by helping our motherland.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

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.