nation-state

American  

[ney-shuhn-steyt] / ˈneɪ ʃənˌsteɪt /

noun

1. a sovereign state inhabited by a relatively homogeneous group of people who share a feeling of common nationality.

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nation-state British  

noun

1. an independent state inhabited by all the people of one nation and one nation only

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Etymology

Origin of nation-state

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Since the modern nation-state system was organized by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1688, state sovereignty has been the bedrock of international law.

From Los Angeles Times

His coverage focuses on the national security and geopolitical dimensions of nation-state hacking conflict, digital espionage, online influence operations, election interference, and government surveillance.

From The Wall Street Journal

To them, the nation-state is something to be developed, not erased.

From The Wall Street Journal

Overruling Trotsky’s drive for a never-ending worldwide revolution, Stalin normalized the Soviet Union as a nation-state that traded and maintained diplomatic relations with the West.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you’re a high-profile individual being individually targeted by a well-funded nation-state, a commercial VPN alone probably won’t help much.

From Salon