What does "nation" mean?
A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.
Nation
/ˈneɪʃən/ adj, adv, name, noun, slang
adj, adv, name, noun, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.
- Grammar: nation is listed as adj, adv, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: country, land, state, afghanistan.
- Useful contrasts: portuguese estado, anarchy, bremen.
- Usage evidence: A republic is a nation whose head is not a king or queen, but a president.
How to use "nation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nation" 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
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- 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 "nation" 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 "nation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nation" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "country" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture. collective
"The Roma are a nation without a country."
- 2 Damnation. rare
"... what the nation's the matter of that boy now ? If he's got them highsterics ag'in , I'll blister him from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet , sure as he's a - livin ' . " The doctor took up his hat and started out to meet[…]"
- 3 the people who live in a nation or country wordnet
- 4 A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.; A community united by some trait (especially an interest) but not historically constituted. broadly, collective, humorous, informal, often
"Near-synonym: tribe"
- 5 a politically organized body of people under a single government wordnet
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A sovereign state; (loosely, metonymic, proscribed) a country. metonymically
"Though legally single nations, many states comprise several distinct cultural or ethnic groups."
- 7 a federation of tribes (especially Native American tribes) wordnet
- 8 An association of students based on the birthplace or ethnicity of its members. historical
"Once widespread across Europe in medieval times, nations are now largely restricted to the ancient universities of Sweden and Finland."
- 9 A great number; a great deal. obsolete
"[…]and what a nation of herbs he had procured to mollify her humours, &c. &c.[…]"
- 10 In North America, an Indigenous people and their federally recognized territory.
"The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the United States and the second-largest Indian reservation in area."
Adjective
- 1 An intensifier; extreme, great. dialectal, rare
"... a nation deal o' trouble to captivate him."
Adverb
- 1 Extremely, very. dialectal, rare
"“Looky here, Bilgewater,” he says, “I’m nation sorry for you, but you ain’t the only person that’s had troubles like that.”"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"A republic is a nation whose head is not a king or queen, but a president."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nation"?
Common synonyms include: country, land, state, afghanistan, albania, algeria.
How do you use "nation" in a sentence?
A republic is a nation whose head is not a king or queen, but a president.
How do you pronounce "nation"?
Pronounced /ˈneɪʃən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English nacioun, nacion, from Old French nacion, from Latin nātiōnem, accusative of nātiō (“nation”). Displaced native Old English þēod.
Etymology 2
Short for damnation or tarnation.