fatherland
Fatherland (noun) means One's native country, especially spoken of with strong patriotic feeling. Example: “The soldiers were told they were fighting to defend the fatherland.”
How to use fatherland
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA patriotic term for one's home country.
Often carries a formal or nationalistic tone, and in English it's frequently associated with German history — use it carefully.
Word forms
fatherlands plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The soldiers were told they were fighting to defend the _____.
Etymology
From "father" plus "land", echoing similar compounds in German (Vaterland) and Dutch (vaderland).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fatherland
Frequently asked questions
What does “fatherland” mean?
The word “fatherland” means one's native country, especially spoken of with strong patriotic feeling. In plain terms, a patriotic term for one's home country.
How do you use “fatherland” in a sentence?
Here is “fatherland” used in a sentence: “The soldiers were told they were fighting to defend the fatherland.”
What is another word for “fatherland”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fatherland” include homeland, motherland and sire-land.
What part of speech is “fatherland”?
“Fatherland” is a noun.
Where does the word “fatherland” come from?
The word “fatherland” comes from German. From "father" plus "land", echoing similar compounds in German (Vaterland) and Dutch (vaderland).
Is “fatherland” a common word?
“Fatherland” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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