several nations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "several nations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to multiple countries or states, often in discussions about international relations, cooperation, or conflicts. Example: "The conference was attended by representatives from several nations, each bringing their unique perspectives to the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Several nations complained about the U.S. raids.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Several nations built submarines to Nordenfelt's design.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Several nations also want concessions on drug patents.

The New York Times

Twenty-five people from several nations, including Saudis, were killed.

The New York Times - Magazine

Several nations objected to being on the list.

The New York Times

Attendees will represent several nations, and one abandoned planet: Caprica.

The New York Times

Paraguay's Chaco forest lies in the Gran Chaco plain, spread across several nations.

The New York Times

They were designed in China in the 1960s but have been reproduced by several nations.

The New York Times

Several nations soon raised strong objections, and the convention was short-lived.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The daunting nature of the evacuation led several nations to turn to others for help.

The New York Times

Several nations began to achieve success with smokeless powder of nitrated cellulose and usually some nitroglycerin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "several nations" when you want to indicate a limited but unspecified number of countries, typically more than two but less than many.

Common error

Avoid using "several nations" in situations where specific countries should be named for accuracy or clarity. If the nations are particularly important to the point of your text, name them explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "several nations" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it generally refers to more than two, but not a large number of countries.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

22%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "several nations" is a common and versatile expression used to indicate the involvement of multiple countries in a particular situation, agreement, or conflict. As Ludwig confirms, it strikes a balance between specifying more than one entity while avoiding the vagueness of "many" or the precision of naming each country individually. The phrase is widely used in neutral contexts, especially in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific literature, making it suitable for diverse forms of writing. When employing this phrase, remember to ensure context allows for clarity of the nations referenced, or the explicit naming of important countries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a number of countries

Emphasizes a specific, though unspecified, quantity of countries.

various countries

Highlights the diversity or variety among the countries.

multiple countries

Stresses that there are more than one country involved.

a few countries

Indicates a smaller, more limited number of countries.

diverse nations

Highlights the differences among the nations involved.

many countries

Suggests a large quantity of countries.

numerous nations

Similar to "many nations" but slightly more formal.

certain countries

Implies that specific countries are being referred to, but not named.

several states

Uses "states" instead of "nations", which may be more appropriate in certain contexts.

a collection of countries

Refers to a group or set of countries.

FAQs

How can I use "several nations" in a sentence?

The phrase "several nations" is generally used to indicate that multiple countries are involved in a particular event, agreement, or situation. For example, "Several nations condemned the attack".

What are some alternatives to saying "several nations"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a number of countries", "various countries", or "multiple countries".

Is it more appropriate to use "several nations" or "many nations"?

"Several nations" implies a smaller, more limited number than "many nations". The choice depends on the actual number of countries you're referring to; use "several" when the number is not particularly large.

In what contexts is "several nations" typically used?

The phrase "several nations" is frequently used in political, economic, or historical discussions when referring to international relationships, agreements, or conflicts. News reports and academic papers often employ this expression.