nation

A nation is a large group of people who share a common identity, culture, language, or history, and who often live in a particular territory. While "nation" and "country" are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle distinction.

Nation: Emphasizes the people and their shared identity. For example, the "Cherokee Nation" refers to a group of people with a shared culture and history, even though they don't have a sovereign country of their own in the traditional sense.

Country: Refers to the geographical territory and the political entity that governs it. It's the physical land and the government. For example, "the country of Canada" refers to the land, its borders, and its government.

A nation-state is a political concept where the nation (the people with a shared identity) and the state (the political entity) are aligned. Most modern countries are considered nation-states, where the majority of the population shares a common culture and national identity, and that identity is closely tied to the state.