country

country — noun

1. A place that functions as a separate political unit, with its own elected govern

1.nounA1
Definition

A place that functions as a separate political unit, with its own elected government, system of laws, and internationally recognised borders.

Example

Madison visited Japan last year and was amazed by how clean the cities were.

country as a named political unit visited by a traveller

Every country makes its own rules about taxes, trade, and healthcare.

Common collocations
  • home country
  • foreign country
  • host country
  • home/foreign/host
Synonyms
  • nation

    More abstract; emphasises the people and culture rather than the land or government.

  • state

    More formal; focuses on the political and legal system that governs a country.

  • land

    More poetic or emotional; often used in expressions like 'my native land'.

Grammar Patterns

a/an + country

the country

country + noun (compound)

Usage Note

Often used with a possessive adjective (my country, your country, their country) or with 'the' when referring to a specific known nation.

Common Mistakes

Country is a place with people.
A country is an area of land with its own government and borders.
The definition needs to mention government and borders, not just people.

2. The entire population of a nation, seen as a group that shares opinions, feeling

2.nounB1
Definition

The entire population of a nation, seen as a group that shares opinions, feelings, or experiences as one body.

Example

The whole country watched the final match on television that night.

the whole country = everyone in the nation

When the team won the championship, the entire country celebrated in the streets.

Common collocations
  • the whole country
  • the entire country
  • the country celebrated
  • the country mourned
Synonyms
  • nation

    Very similar, but 'nation' can also emphasise shared culture, history, or ethnicity.

  • populace

    More formal and less common in everyday speech.

  • public

    Broader; can refer to people in a city or region, not necessarily the whole country.

Grammar Patterns

the + country + singular verb

Usage Note

This sense uses 'the country' as a collective singular noun. The verb is always singular even though the meaning is plural.

3. Land in areas away from urban centres, where fields, woods, and farms take the p

3.nounA2
Definition

Land in areas away from urban centres, where fields, woods, and farms take the place of houses, shops, and streets.

Example

Élise lives in the country, about thirty minutes from the nearest town.

live in the country = live in a rural area

We drove through miles of beautiful open country on our way to the lake.

Common collocations
  • in the country
  • live in the country
  • open country
  • the quiet of the country
Synonyms
  • countryside

    Very similar; 'countryside' more often emphasises scenic beauty or farmland.

  • rural area

    More formal and neutral; used in official or descriptive contexts.

Antonyms
  • city

    A large, densely populated urban area.

  • town

    A smaller urban settlement.

Grammar Patterns

in the country

the country

open country

Usage Note

Always used with 'the' in this sense ('in the country', 'the country'). Unlike the nation sense, this has no plural form and cannot be used with 'a'.

Common Mistakes

I live in country.
I live in the country.
The definite article 'the' is required in this sense.

4. A large area of land that is known for a particular physical feature, type of ac

4.nounB2
Definition

A large area of land that is known for a particular physical feature, type of activity, or historical connection, without having official borders.

Example

The Lake District is some of the most beautiful walking country in England.

walking country = area good for hiking

This part of the country is famous for its excellent wine production.

Common collocations
  • hill country
  • wooded country
  • farming country
  • wine country
Synonyms
  • region

    More neutral; can refer to any area, not just one defined by a natural feature.

  • territory

    Suggests a larger area, often with a political or geographical boundary.

  • land

    More literary; often used to describe scenery or terrain.

Grammar Patterns

[adj] + country

[noun] + country

Usage Note

In this sense, 'country' is always uncountable and is preceded by a descriptive word (adjective or noun) that says what kind of area it is. Unlike sense 3, 'the' is not required.

5. A shortened way of referring to country music, a popular music style that began

5.nounB1
Definition

A shortened way of referring to country music, a popular music style that began in the southern United States, typically featuring guitars, fiddles, and lyrics about everyday life.

Example

Faisal listens to country on his way to work every morning.

listen to country = listen to country music

The radio station plays nothing but country all day long.

Common collocations
  • listen to country
  • play country
  • country singer
  • country festival
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

country (as a noun for music)

Usage Note

This is an informal clipping used mainly in conversation, radio, and music journalism. In formal writing, use the full term 'country music'.

Idioms

across country

idiom

Traveling directly through fields and open land rather than using roads or paths.

The runners raced across country through muddy fields and over rocky hills.

The soldiers marched across country to reach the village before nightfall.

go to the country

idiom

To dissolve parliament and hold a general election before the usual time.

The Prime Minister decided to go to the country after losing the support of her own party.

Many voters were surprised when the government chose to go to the country so early.

it's a free country

idiom

Used to say that someone has the right to do what they want, especially when being criticised or told not to do something.

If Nala wants to dye her hair green, she should go ahead — it's a free country!

When the neighbour complained about his loud music, Tunde shrugged and said, 'It's a free country.'

it’s a free country

idiom

Used to say that people have the right to do what they want without asking for permission.

Maya wore a bright pink hat, saying it's a free country.

When Dad told me to turn down the music, I replied, "It's a free country!"

country — adjective

Word family

  • countryside
    nounA2
  • countryman
    nounC1
  • countrywoman
    nounC1
  • countrywide
    adjectiveB2
  • cross-country
    adjectiveB2
  • country-and-western
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Country, nation, state, land, and territory all refer to a geographical area with political or cultural meaning, but they differ in emphasis. Country is the most general everyday word for a political unit with borders and a government — you talk about visiting a country, leaving your country, or which country someone comes from. Nation adds emotional and cultural weight; it suggests a group of people who share language, history, or traditions (e.g., 'a proud nation', 'the Navajo Nation'). State is more formal and legal, focusing on the political institutions that run a country (e.g., 'the welfare state', 'heads of state'). Land is literary or poetic, often appearing in fixed expressions like 'my native land' or 'the promised land'. Territory emphasises physical area, often one that is controlled or claimed but may or may not be a fully independent country (e.g., 'occupied territory', 'overseas territory'). In everyday speech, country is almost always the right choice. Use nation when you want to highlight people and identity; use state in formal or political writing.

nation ↗state ↗land ↗territory ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • country and city
  • country and government
  • country and people

Adverbs

  • across the country
  • throughout the country
  • all over the country

Phrases

  • the country as a whole
  • across the length and breadth of the country
  • back in the old country

Prepositions

  • in a country
  • of a country
  • to a country
  • from a country
  • outside the country

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'country' came into English through Old French 'contree', which meant a region or a stretch of land. This word came from the Medieval Latin phrase 'terra contrata', literally 'land lying opposite' — a way of describing a land area spread out before someone. The Latin 'contra' means 'against' or 'opposite', but in this case it was used more loosely to mean 'extending in front of' or 'spread out'. The sense of 'rural land' (noun sense 3) developed later in English, as people began to contrast life in the city with life in 'the country'.