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  • national park
    national park
    noun
    an area of scenic beauty, historical importance, or the like, owned and maintained by a national government for the use of the people.
  • National Park
    National Park
    noun
    a mountainous volcanic region in New Zealand, in the central North Island: ski resort
Synonyms

national park

American  

noun

national parks plural
  1. an area of scenic beauty, historical importance, or the like, owned and maintained by a national government for the use of the people.


National Park 1 British  

noun

  1. a mountainous volcanic region in New Zealand, in the central North Island: ski resort

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

national park 2 British  

noun

  1. an area of countryside for public use designated by a national government as being of notable scenic, environmental, or historical importance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of national park

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Compare meaning

How does national-park compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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.

See Examples For:

If you are planning on visiting a national park, the National Parks Conservation Association recommends visiting midweek and arriving early or late in the day to avoid crowds.

From MarketWatch Jun. 11, 2026

The funding for both contracts comes from the entrance fees paid by national park visitors.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 8, 2026

America’s most-visited national park is home to 19 different firefly species.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 3, 2026

Some 16% of Jersey's land mass is part of the national park and any development on it is strictly regulated.

From BBC May 19, 2026

The Smokies achieved their natural splendor without the guidance of a national park service and don’t actually need it now.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

But the army said its operations, which lasted more than a month, targeted the kidnappers' wider networks and dismantled several hideouts in the forests of Old Oyo National Park.

From Barron's Jul. 11, 2026

On Friday, organisers of the National Park Service's Independence Day Parade in Washington DC cancelled the annual event over safety concerns.

From BBC Jul. 5, 2026

Geotechnical surveys commissioned by the National Park Service concluded that the structural integrity of the granite on Black Elk Peak, the mountain formerly known as Harney Peak, is spent.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 3, 2026

"This was a deliberate act to damage the reflecting pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore."

From BBC Jul. 2, 2026

A native of Indiana, Doss is an amiable, soft-spoken, extremely thoughtful man who looks nothing like a National Park Service employee.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

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