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.
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.
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
a citizen or subject
a national newspaper
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.
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!
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!
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!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ken Klippenstein, independent journalist covering national security and U.S. politics.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has watched Lamine Yamal develop across age groups with the national team and believes what he is seeing is not just talent.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
The offering could take place as soon as June 12, and would shatter the $25.6 billion fundraising record for an IPO, held until now by Gulf giant Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's national oil company.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
But if Pratt is in the general election rather than Raman, we’re in for a national media circus rather than a summit on solutions.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Curls of ticker tape in the national colors coiled along the yardsticks of our gala dinner.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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.
