homeland
noun
home·land
ˈhōm-ˌland 
also -lənd
plural homelands
1
: the native land or country of one's parents, one's ancestors, or oneself
our ancestral homeland
hadn't seen their homeland since they were children
2
: a state or area designated as a state for a people of a particular national, cultural, or racial origin
They are fighting for an independent homeland.
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security [=a department in the U.S. government that is responsible for the safety of the U.S. and its citizens]
specifically, in South African history
: any of several all-Black enclaves that had a limited degree of self-government : bantustan
Examples of homeland in a Sentence
He returned to his homeland for the first time in many years.
The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amidst the maelstrom of war in Ukraine, three drag queens – Diva Monroe, Marlene, and Aura – refuse to abandon their homeland.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
The Trump administration has rolled back an 18-month extension of legal immigration protections for over half-a-million Haitians temporarily residing in the United States, creating uncertainty and anxiety as their homeland continues to veer on the brink of a violent collapse led by armed gangs.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Image Venezuelan Americans were aghast when Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, justified the decision to end T.P.S. by saying that conditions had improved in Venezuela.
—Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
More than 40% of the migrants, authorities say, won't voluntarily return to their homeland.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for homeland
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
The Trump administration has rolled back an 18-month extension of legal immigration protections for over half-a-million Haitians temporarily residing in the United States, creating uncertainty and anxiety as their homeland continues to veer on the brink of a violent collapse led by armed gangs.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Image Venezuelan Americans were aghast when Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, justified the decision to end T.P.S. by saying that conditions had improved in Venezuela.
—Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
More than 40% of the migrants, authorities say, won't voluntarily return to their homeland.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for homeland
Cite this Entry
“Homeland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeland. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
homeland
noun
home·land
ˈhōm-ˌland
: native land : fatherland
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share