fatherland

noun

fa·​ther·​land ˈfä-t͟hər-ˌland 

1

: the native land or country of one's father or ancestors

2

: one's native land or country

Synonyms

• country
• home
• homeland
• mother country
• motherland
• sod

Examples of fatherland in a Sentence

though they had lived in their adopted country for many years, the immigrant families never broke their ties with the fatherland entirely

Recent Examples on the Web

In his book on Hindutva, published in 1923, Savarkar argued that India should belong to this nation of Hindus, who considered the subcontinent both their fatherland and their holy land. —Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024

Before the invasion, Kirill falsely cast Russian troops as defenders of the fatherland and aimed to dispel moral misgivings. —Nina Shea, National Review, 24 Jan. 2024

The sympathizers range from Mr. Sarkozy’s Gaullist center right, with its simmering resentment of American power in Europe and admiration for strong leaders, to Marine Le Pen’s far right, enamored of Mr. Putin’s stand for family, faith and fatherland against a supposedly decadent West. —Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023

Universal military conscription—invented by the revolutionary government of France—enabled nation-states to recruit massive armies whose soldiers were motivated to fight for their fatherland. —Andreas Wimmer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

fatherland

noun

fa·​ther·​land ˈfät͟h-ər-ˌland 

ˈfȧt͟h-

1

: the native land of one's ancestors

2

: one's native land