nation

The definition of a nation is a body of people in a particular location with a distinct government.

(noun)

An example of nation is the United States.

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See nation in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a stable, historically developed community of people with a territory, economic life, distinctive culture, and language in common
  2. the people of a territory united under a single government; country
    1. a people or tribe; specif., a group of North American Indians, sometimes one belonging to a confederation
    2. ☆ the territory of a particular Indian people or peoples

Origin: ME nacion < OFr < L natio < natus, born: see nature

Related Forms:

Nation, Carry (born Carry Amelia Moore) 1846-1911; U.S. temperance leader

See nation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A relatively large group of people organized under a single, usually independent government; a country.
    b. The territory occupied by such a group of people: All across the nation, people are voting their representatives out.
  2. The government of a sovereign state.
  3. A people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language; a nationality: “Historically the Ukrainians are an ancient nation which has persisted and survived through terrible calamity” (Robert Conquest).
  4. a. A federation or tribe, especially one composed of Native Americans.
    b. The territory occupied by such a federation or tribe.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English nacioun

Origin: , from Old French nation

Origin: , from Latin nātiō, nātiōn-

Origin: , from nātus

Origin: , past participle of nāscī, to be born; see genə- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • naˈtion·hoodˌ noun
  • naˈtion·less adjective

American temperance crusader who conducted a series of raids on saloons, in which she used a hatchet to break liquor bottles and destroy furniture.

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