nation

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling of "nation"

IPA: /ˈneɪʃən/

Syllable Breakdown:

• na-:

• /n/: voiced alveolar nasal

• /eɪ/: diphthong, starting with /e/ (open-mid front unrounded vowel) and ending with /ɪ/ (short front unrounded vowel)

• -tion:

• /ʃ/: voiceless palatal-alveolar fricative

• /ə/: schwa (reduced vowel)

• /n/: voiced alveolar nasal

Word Form Variations

• Singular: nation

  Plural: nations

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun

• Definition: A large group of people united by common cultural, historical, or linguistic ties, typically inhabiting a particular territory and under one government.

• Synonyms: country, state, homeland, realm, realm

• Antonyms: tribe, clan, ethnic group

Adjective

• Definition: Relating to or characteristic of a nation.

• Synonyms: national, domestic, indigenous

• Antonyms: international, foreign, foreign

Verb

• Definition: To form into a nation.

• Synonyms: unite, unify, consolidate

• Antonyms: divide, separate, disunite

Examples of Use

Books

• "The nation was divided on the issue of slavery." (The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne)

• "The nation's economy was in a state of recession." (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Newspapers

• "The president addressed the nation in a televised speech." (The New York Times)

• "The nation's unemployment rate rose to 5%." (The Wall Street Journal)

Online Publications

• "The nation's healthcare system is facing a crisis." (The Atlantic)

• "The nation's infrastructure is in need of repair." (Vox)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

• "The nation's favorite reality TV show is coming to an end." (People Magazine)

• "The band's latest album is a hit across the nation." (Billboard)

General Public Discourse

• "I'm proud to be a citizen of this great nation." (Everyday conversation)

• "We must unite as a nation to overcome our challenges." (Political speech)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Nation

1. "A nation that forgets its past has no future."
   — Winston Churchill

2. "The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."
   — Confucius

3. "A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones."
   — Nelson Mandela

4. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
   — Mahatma Gandhi

5. "No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you."
   — Muhammad Ali Jinnah

6. "The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous."
   — Frederick Douglass

7. "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."
   — John F. Kennedy

8. "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free."
   — Abraham Lincoln

9. "The health of a nation is judged by the quality of life of its weakest members."
   — Anonymous

10. "A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground."
    — Cheyenne Proverb

Etymology

Nation is a word that comes from the Latin word natio, which means "birth" or "origin." This is because a nation is often seen as a group of people who share a common origin or ancestry.

The word natio was used in Latin to refer to a group of people who were born in the same place or who shared a common culture. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to include the idea of a political entity or a country.

The first known use of the word "nation" in English was in the 14th century. At that time, it was used to refer to a group of people who were born in the same country or who shared a common language.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Nation

Common Phrases:

• Nationwide: Throughout the entire nation.

• Nationally known: Famous throughout the country.

• Nation's business: Matters of public importance or concern.

• Nation's capital: The city where a nation's government is located.

Less Common Phrases:

• Nation's heart: The symbolic center or soul of a nation.

• Nation's conscience: The moral or ethical sense of a nation.

• Nation's pride: A person or thing that a nation is proud of.

Idioms with Synonyms:

• A nation unto itself: A place or group that is independent and self-sufficient (similar to "a world unto itself").

• To build a nation: To create a strong and prosperous country (similar to "to forge a nation").

• To divide a nation: To cause conflict or disagreement within a country (similar to "to tear a nation apart").

Note: While "nation" is a common word with many related phrases and idioms, there are fewer idioms that directly use the word itself. This is likely because "nation" is a more abstract concept than many other words that are commonly used in idioms.

Posts Related to Nation

Source Information

Definition of nation from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.