The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word NATION
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
N
A
T
I
O
N
More clues leading to the result NATION
- Number one hit going around country
- Country knight fighting to keep out city-dwellers primarily
- Folk swimming for Calais? No thanks
- Alliance accepting one new country
- A bloomer, ignoring motor race
- Race car leaving front of plant
- Military alliance admitting one new federation of tribes
- Any number fighting, about to leave country
- Element into different state?
- Not in a dreadful state
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Country" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case country = nation.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does NATION mean?
NATION noun- A historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.
- A sovereign state.
- An association of students based on its members' birthplace or ethnicity.
- A great number; a great deal.
- Damnation.
- Extremely, very.