national

[nash-uh-nl, nash-nuhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit.

   national affairs.

2. owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government.

   a national wildlife refuge.

3. peculiar or common to the whole people of a country.

   national customs.

4. devoted to one's own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic.

   to stir up national pride.

5. nationalist.

6. concerning or encompassing an entire nation.

   a national radio network.

7. limited to one nation.

noun

1. a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled to its protection.

   U.S. nationals living abroad.

2. Often nationals. a national competition, tournament, or the like.

   We're invited to Minneapolis for the nationals.

3. a national company or organization.

national

¹

/ ˈnæʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, involving, or relating to a nation as a whole

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular nation

   the national dress of Poland

3. rare,  nationalistic or patriotic

noun

1. a citizen or subject

2. a national newspaper

National

²

/ ˈnæʃənəl /

noun

1. short for the Grand National

Other Word Forms

• nationally adverb
• antinational adjective
• antinationally adverb
• nonnational adjective
• nonnationally adverb
• prenational adjective
• pronational adjective
• pseudonational adjective
• pseudonationally adverb
• quasi-national adjective
• quasi-nationally adverb
• subnational adjective
• unnational adjective
• unnationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of national¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; nation + -al ¹

Example Sentences

New regulations announced by the country's Ministry of Commerce "to safeguard national security" formalise existing rules on processing technology and unauthorised overseas cooperation.

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The Welsh government said it accepted Estyn's recommendations including more training for staff and national guidance on implementing AI in education.

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Bunty Singh, who owns a local café and delicatessen, said he had no issue with anyone flying a national flag but also insisted there were no problems with immigration in Bridge of Weir.

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He referenced the city’s founding by the Muscogee Creek native people, the area’s oil boom and the 1921 race massacre that only recently resurfaced in the national conversation as evidence of its cultural pertinence.

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Now the primary school national curriculum is taught in Somali with the curriculum remaining in English for higher education - and Arabic used at madrassas, or Islamic schools.

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Related Words

• civil 
• communal 
• domestic 
• ethnic 
• governmental www.thesaurus.com
• internal 
• interstate 
• nationwide 
• public 
• social