old country
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of old country
First recorded in 1775–85
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.
Growing up, Jane Ziegelman often heard stories about the old country from family members gathered at her grandmother’s home in Queens, N.Y.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
That's not to say there isn't still a huge amount of goodwill towards everyone from the "old country".
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025
The bulk of Maniscalco’s most recognizable bits revolve around stories about his hairdresser father, Salvo, whose no-nonsense immigrant wisdom is exported from the old country.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024
Down an old country road, off a winding gravel trail, I found the little swamp marsh that will someday be devoured by the rising sea.
From Salon • May 11, 2024
He had left religion behind back in Brooklyn, or maybe even before that, back in the old country, but some things were inexcusable.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
