noun
nation
NAY-shuhn
noun
1
A large group of people who share a common history, culture, language, or identity, often but not always tied to a specific country.
"The nation came together to mourn the loss of the beloved leader."
"Many Indigenous nations in North America govern their own territories."
2
A country, especially as a political and territorial unit.
"Delegates from over a hundred nations attended the climate summit."
How to Use Nation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA country, or a people bound together by shared identity, even when they don't all live within one country's borders.
Common mistake
A "nation" isn't always the same as a "state" — a nation is about shared identity or culture, while a state is a formal political entity, which is why terms like "stateless nation" exist.
Common pairings
the nation state
across the nation
a proud nation
Word Forms
nations plural, Nations plural
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The _____ came together to mourn the loss of the beloved leader.
Etymology
From Latin nātiō, "birth, race, people," ultimately from nāscor, "to be born" — the same root behind "native" and "natal."