nation /ˈneɪʃən/noun 7adjective 1adverb 1forms 1 noun7 •A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed based on a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.The Roma are a nation without a country. •a country that has its own government and is not ruled by another countryThough legally single nations, many states comprise several distinct cultural or ethnic groups. •In North America, an Indigenous people with federal and/or state recognition as such and (often also) their federally recognized territory.The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest federally recognized tribe in the United States and the second-largest Indian reservation in area.The term Navajo Nation refers both to the people and to their territory. •(informal, humorous) A community united by some trait (especially an interest) but not historically constituted.the Dallas Cowboys nation •An association of students based on the birthplace or ethnicity of its members.Once widespread across Europe in medieval times, nations are now largely restricted to the ancient universities of Sweden and Finland. •(rare) Damnation.O nation!.. if I were a man, […] — 1896 •(no longer used) A great number; a great deal.[…]and what a nation of herbs he had procured to mollify her humours, &c. &c.[…] — 1762 adjective1 •(dialect, rare) An intensifier; extreme, great.... a nation deal o' trouble to captivate him. — 1839 adverb1 •(dialect, rare) Extremely, very.“Looky here, Bilgewater,” he says, “I’m nation sorry for you, but you ain’t the only person that’s had troubles like that.” — 1884 formsnations
