homeland
a person's native country or land
The country or land where you were born or where you feel you really belong.
[someone]'s homeland; in [someone]'s homeland; return to [someone]'s homeland
- After thirty years abroad, she finally returned to her homeland.
- He sends money back to his homeland to support his parents.
- They dream of one day visiting the ancestral homeland of their grandparents.
- War forced many people to leave their homeland and seek safety overseas.
- The festival celebrates music and food from her African homeland.
- I miss my homeland and my family there.
- He left his homeland when he was a child.
- Many people send money to their homeland every month.
- They want to visit their parents' homeland.
- She feels proud of her homeland.
one's country as territory to defend
A country seen as land that must be kept safe from attack or danger, especially in government and military talk.
defend the homeland; protect the homeland; homeland security
- The government increased spending on missile defense to protect the homeland.
- Troops were deployed along the coast to defend the homeland from possible invasion.
- New laws were passed in the name of homeland security after the attacks.
- They argued that the best way to keep the homeland safe was through international cooperation.
- Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are now seen as a serious threat to the homeland.
- The army works to defend the homeland.
- Some new laws are made to protect the homeland from terrorism.
- People were afraid that the homeland might be attacked.
- She studies cyber security to help keep the homeland safe.
- They talk about homeland security on the news every day.
apartheid-era South African "homeland"
In old South African law, a "homeland" was a special area of land where the government forced Black groups to live and called it their own country.
the [name] homeland; the apartheid homelands; in the homelands
- Under apartheid, many Black South Africans were forcibly relocated to rural homelands.
- The so-called homelands were used by the regime to deny Black citizens full political rights in South Africa.
- Economic opportunities in the homelands were extremely limited compared to the rest of the country.
- Scholars have written extensively about life in the apartheid homelands.
- After 1994, the former homelands were reincorporated into a unified South Africa.
- During apartheid, some Black people had to live in special areas called homelands.
- Life in the homelands was very poor and difficult.
- The homelands were far from big cities in South Africa.
- After apartheid ended, the homelands became part of South Africa again.
- Many history books talk about the homelands system.
- Base: homeland
- Plural: homelands
defend the homeland
1protect your own country from attack
To protect your own country from military attack or other serious danger.
- The soldiers believed they were fighting to defend the homeland.
- Leaders said the new missiles were needed to defend the homeland.
- Citizens were asked to make sacrifices in order to defend the homeland.
homeland defense
1military protection of national territory
Military and security actions that try to keep a country’s own land safe from attack.
- The general is responsible for planning homeland defense.
- New technology is changing the way countries think about homeland defense.
- They argued that homeland defense should focus more on cyber threats.
homeland security
1protection of a country from threats
Government work and systems that try to keep a country safe from things like terrorism, spying, and serious crime.
- Funding for homeland security increased after the attacks.
- She works in homeland security, focusing on airport safety.
- The new bill could change the way the country handles homeland security.
in the homeland
1inside one's own country
In your own country, not in another country.
- Conditions in the homeland have improved since the end of the conflict.
- They watch news from relatives still living in the homeland.
- The party is less popular abroad than it is in the homeland.
return to one's homeland
1go back to your native land
To go back to the country where you were born or where you feel you truly belong, after living away for some time.
- Many refugees hope to return to their homeland when the war ends.
- After retiring, she decided to return to her homeland.
- He returned to his homeland to take care of his aging parents.