nation-state

noun

na·​tion-state ˈnā-shən-ˈstāt How to pronounce nation-state (audio)
-ˌstāt
: a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state
especially : a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities

Examples of nation-state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Cybercriminals and nation-states now use AI to generate convincing phishing emails, create deepfakes for elaborate scams, discover vulnerabilities, and customize attacks based on individuals' online behavior. Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Big Tech’s power deepened further in late 2022 with the debut of large language models and the subsequent explosion of artificial intelligence—a breakthrough technology that has entrenched the tech industry’s lead over nation-states. Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025 Some Republicans also seemed worried about the president flying on an aircraft that was purchased by another nation-state. Al Weaver, The Hill, 12 May 2025 At least three strands of Atlantic historiography have proved fruitful thus far in thinking beyond isolated, modern nation-states: studies of the transatlantic slave trade, comparative histories of colonial societies in the Americas, and transatlantic histories of British and American imperialism. Abby Clayton, JSTOR Daily, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nation-state

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nation-state was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation-state. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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