nationwide

American  

[ney-shuhn-wahyd] / ˈneɪ ʃənˈwaɪd /

adjective

1. extending throughout the nation.

   The incident aroused nationwide interest.

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nationwide British  

/ ˈneɪʃənˌwaɪd /

adjective

1. covering or available to the whole of a nation; national

   a nationwide survey

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Etymology

Origin of nationwide

First recorded in 1910–15; nation + -wide

Explanation

Something nationwide refers to or covers the whole country. A nationwide shortage of wheat would affect everyone in every single state. A gossipy news story about a presidential candidate might cause a nationwide scandal, if everyone in the whole country were talking about it. And if a drought seemed to be spreading nationwide, farmers from Maine to California would start to worry about that year's crops. Nationwide combines nation, from the Latin nationem, "origin" or "race of people," and wide, from its "extending through the whole of" meaning.

Example Sentences

Prior to that role, she led the Los Angeles chapter of Unite Here, the nationwide union for restaurant, hospitality and casino workers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Gas prices have consistently averaged above $4 per gallon nationwide for the entire month of April.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The quarterly GDP report doesn’t capture any fallout from continued fuel-price hikes in April, when regular gasoline averaged about $4.10 a gallon nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The Irish government has announced further fuel supports for some workers and businesses, after nationwide protests in recent weeks.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

While the FBI conducted a massive nationwide hunt, the Ellsbergs moved by night from place to place.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• civil
• communal
• domestic
• ethnic
• governmental
• internal
• interstate
• public
• social