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.
The court also ruled in December that the president did not have the power to put National Guard troops on the streets of Chicago.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
This week, veteran National Public Radio reporter Nina Totenberg briefly published a story stating that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring.
From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026
A 39-year-old man was found dead in the early hours of 16 June at Pontsticill Reservoir in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, police said.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
China’s National Press and Publication Administration issued 483 game licenses in the second quarter, up 13% on year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
The organization awarded medals of honor to Rudi and Karl “for outstanding merits in the fight against the National Socialist tyranny, and the reestablishment of freedom and democracy.”
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.
