national
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit.
national affairs.
-
owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government.
a national wildlife refuge.
-
peculiar or common to the whole people of a country.
national customs.
-
devoted to one's own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic.
to stir up national pride.
-
concerning or encompassing an entire nation.
a national radio network.
-
limited to one nation.
noun
-
a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled to its protection.
U.S. nationals living abroad.
-
Often nationals. a national competition, tournament, or the like.
We're invited to Minneapolis for the nationals.
-
a national company or organization.
adjective
-
of, involving, or relating to a nation as a whole
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular nation
the national dress of Poland
-
rare nationalistic or patriotic
noun
-
a citizen or subject
-
a national newspaper
noun
Other Word Forms
-
antinationaladjective
-
antinationallyadverb
-
nationallyadverb
-
nonnationaladjective
-
nonnationallyadverb
-
prenationaladjective
-
pronationaladjective
-
pseudonationaladjective
-
pseudonationallyadverb
-
quasi-nationaladjective
-
quasi-nationallyadverb
-
subnationaladjective
-
unnationaladjective
-
unnationallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of national
Explanation
National is an adjective that refers to something or someone that belongs to a nation or country. Baseball is the national pastime of the United States. The word national describes anything that is common to, shared by, or represents a group of people or a place that is considered a nation, like the national anthem sung before the national pastime of baseball. National statistics provide information about a country as a whole. During times of war, the national mood is usually tense and sad. A national is also a citizen of a nation. You might be called an “American national” if you are an American living in Paris.
Vocabulary lists containing national
Name On: Pro Sports Team Names, Part 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
American Naturalization Test, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, PSP is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that control thinking and body movements.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
The National Association of Realtors reports pending home sales on Tuesday, while the Census Bureau releases residential construction statistics on Thursday.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
The mayor has been given the go-ahead by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, which blocked his previous attempt to stand in a by-election in January.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
After a flurry of ads around Endless Shrimp in the promotion’s early weeks, the chain eventually mixed up its marketing with other offerings, such as a Mother’s Day menu and National Biscuit Day.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
A former Hitler Youth, Hans was now a student at the University of Munich, and he had grown deeply disillusioned with Hitler, National Socialism, and the war.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.