nation at large

USAGE SUMMARY

"nation at large" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a nation as a collective group or whole, for example: "The nation at large was deeply moved by the speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Franklin Project's mission is designed to help institutionalize this responsibility and transform the way young Americans -- and our nation at large -- view national service.

Huffington Post

Resistant pathogens within a hospital or specific community can spread to a nation at large or across national boundaries.

Globalization and Health

His legacy was largely forgotten by the nation at large between his death and Cameroonian independence.

Wikipedia

She has been venerated by Polish artists and by the nation at large as a symbol of women fighting for the national cause.

Wikipedia

Communitarian nationalism takes the innocent-seeming step of generalizing that sentiment to the nation at large.

Huffington Post

— as well as in the nation at large.

The New York Times

Do those interests benefit the nation at large?

The New York Times

An impotence that afflicted the nation at large.

The Guardian - Books

The nation at large has been embarrassed by the parade of interchangeable prime ministers.

The Economist

But the evidence from the nation at large is loud and clear.

The Guardian - Business

And not just in his community but in the nation at large.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nation at large" when you want to emphasize the impact or perception of something on the entire national population rather than specific groups or individuals.

Common error

While "nation at large" is a valid phrase, avoid using it excessively in informal writing where simpler alternatives like "the whole country" or "everyone" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nation at large" functions as a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, specifying the scope or extent of an action, feeling or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable in written English. It describes the collective of people in a nation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nation at large" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that refers to the population of a country as a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While versatile, it's best used when emphasizing a widespread impact on the entire citizenry. For informal settings, consider simpler alternatives like "the entire country". Its communicative purpose is to underscore the collective experience or shared condition of the citizenry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the entire country

This alternative replaces "nation at large" with a more straightforward and commonly used phrase.

the whole nation

Similar to "the entire country", this option uses "whole" instead of "entire" for slight variation.

the country as a whole

Similar to "the whole nation", this phrase emphasizes the country rather than its population.

the general public

This phrase shifts the focus to the public, implying a collective of people within the nation.

the population as a whole

This phrase is more descriptive and emphasizes the collective aspect of the population.

the people of the nation

This alternative directly refers to the people inhabiting the nation.

the citizenry

This alternative is a more formal term referring to the body of citizens of a country.

the national community

This phrase emphasizes the sense of community within a nation.

the collective populace

This option combines the ideas of collectivity and population.

the body politic

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic term for the people of a nation or state.

FAQs

How can I use "nation at large" in a sentence?

You can use "nation at large" to refer to the population of a country as a whole. For example, "The new policy will affect the "general public" or the "nation at large".

What are some alternatives to "nation at large"?

Some alternatives include "entire country", "whole nation", and "population as a whole", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "nation at large" formal or informal?

"Nation at large" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. However, in highly informal settings, simpler alternatives might be preferable.

Is there a difference between "nation at large" and "community at large"?

Yes. "Nation at large" refers to an entire country's population, while "community at large" refers to a broader, unspecified group of people, often in a local context.