noun
Uncommon
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.”
noun
1
One's native country, especially spoken of with strong patriotic feeling.
"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.
When to use it
Often carries a formal or nationalistic tone, and in English it's frequently associated with German history — use it carefully.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like fatherland.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- fatherlands
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
View more →Related words
Rhymes for fatherland
overland
neverland
Cumberland
Sunderland
motherland
wonderland
Sutherland
Switzerland
Northumberland
See all 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include fatherland:
