Words / B2

HOHML-and/ˈhəʊmlænd/

A homeland is the country where a person was born and has a strong sense of belonging: return to the homeland; a homeland. Native country is a close twin; motherland and fatherland are more loaded, often political. Return to the homeland featured in the memoir; still name the country. Mix-up: hometown (a town, already related); homeless. Do not write homeland for a holiday let with no belonging in the source.

Meaning

The country where a person was born and has a strong sense of belonging.

Examples

• “Return to the homeland featured in the memoir; still name the country in the source.”
• “Homeland security featured in the US extract, which is the policy-compound sense — still name the agency.”

Good to know

return to the homeland; a homeland; homeland security (US compound). Close: native country. Trap: hometown / homeless. History, citizenship, and literature. The country you come from, not a hotel.

Near in meaning

native country, motherland, fatherland

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