national park

American  

noun

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

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National Park ¹ British  

noun

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

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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

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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:

• national monument vs. national park

Example Sentences

Parts of the national park were badly damaged last summer by what landowners described as the biggest wildfire in Scottish history.

From BBC

On Friday, desert iguanas and whiptails scampered across an access road, portions of which wind through the national park.

From Los Angeles Times

An official process looking at whether the proposed area met the criteria for a national park was run by Natural Resources Wales between 2022-25, and costed approximately £700,000 a year.

From BBC

Oakhurst is home to dozens of short-term rentals promoted to visitors to the national park.

From Los Angeles Times

He was driving home from Joshua Tree national park with his girlfriend and Tommy’s girlfriend in the car.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• preserve
• reservation
• reserve