What does "macronation" mean?
An internationally recognised country, as opposed to a micronation; a sovereign state, especially a member or observer state of the United Nations.
Macronation
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An internationally recognised country, as opposed to a micronation; a sovereign state, especially a member or observer state of the United Nations.
- Grammar: macronation is listed as noun.
- Useful contrasts: micronation.
- Usage evidence: I suggest, however, that micronations perform a useful function for "macronations" -- providing an opportunity to experiment with new and radical forms of government in a world that appears to be increasingly centralized, with less and less room for experimentation.
How to use "macronation"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "macronation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "macronation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "macronation" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "macronation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An internationally recognised country, as opposed to a micronation; a sovereign state, especially a member or observer state of the United Nations.
"I suggest, however, that micronations perform a useful function for "macronations" -- providing an opportunity to experiment with new and radical forms of government in a world that appears to be increasingly centralized, with less and less room for experimentation."
- 2 A large nation; a nation of considerable size in population or membership. rare
- 3 A large country; a sovereign state of considerable size, population or both. rare
"This brings us, finally, to those countries that we think can safely be labeled as democracies today, keeping in mind the widely accepted two key requirements […] Based on the foregoing discussion, and (to repeat) excluding the microstates, we would offer the following honor roll of what, for want of a better term, we call the democratic "macronations" […]"
Antonyms
Example
"I suggest, however, that micronations perform a useful function for "macronations" -- providing an opportunity to experiment with new and radical forms of government in a world that appears to be increasingly centralized, with less and less room for experimentation."
Common questions
How do you use "macronation" in a sentence?
I suggest, however, that micronations perform a useful function for "macronations" -- providing an opportunity to experiment with new and radical forms of government in a world that appears to be increasingly centralized, with less and less room for experimentation.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From macro- (“large”) + nation (“a country; a sovereign state”). The micronational sense was likely formed as an antonym of micronation, which was derived from micro- (“small”) + nation (“country”). First attested on 26 November 1996 (see quotations).
Etymology 2
From macro- (“large”) + nation (“a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life or ethnicity”).