Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
An internationally recognised country, as opposed to a micronation; a sovereign state, especially a member or observer state of the United Nations.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: country, nation, sovereign state
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A large country; a sovereign state of considerable size, population or both.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
Topics: geopolitics, government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: microstate
noun
A large nation; a nation of considerable size in population or membership.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From macro- (“large”) + nation (“a country; a sovereign state”). The micronational sense was likely formed as an antonym of micronation, which was derived from micro- (“small”) + nation (“country”). First attested on 26 November 1996 (see quotations).
From macro- (“large”) + nation (“a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life or ethnicity”).
