nationwide
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of nationwide
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This week she has been calling for a nationwide "plan clim'" to equip all schools and hospitals with air-conditioning.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
In 2018 a study by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, which tracks nationwide youth sports participation, reported a 14% three-year drop in the number of youth soccer players.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
Signatures on education technology petitions nationwide skyrocketed 11-fold following LAUSD’s decision, according to data from the petition company Four Norms.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
They’re so beloved that the company eventually started selling them in supermarkets nationwide.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
To discover how Americans regard class and where they place themselves, The New York Times conducted a nationwide survey in March 2005.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
