old country

American  

noun

1. the original home country of an immigrant or a person's ancestors, especially a European country.

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old country British  

noun

1. the country of origin of an immigrant or an immigrant's ancestors

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Other Word Forms

• old-country
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of old country

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old country

They allowed us to see our battered old country whole, and through fresh eyes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

I have an array of friends who learned later in life that their uncles were really their fathers, that Grandma had a whole other family back in the old country.

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2024

The players were immigrants or the sons of immigrants, playing a game that was considered a national pastime in the old country but little more than a waste of time in the new one.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2024

“I take it back to the old country boy saying that you can’t put 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5-pound sack,” Nelson said.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 15, 2024

“From the old country, it appears. High class.”

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson