nationwide

American  

[ney-shuhn-wahyd] / ˈneɪ ʃənˈwaɪd /

adjective

1. extending throughout the nation.

   The incident aroused nationwide interest.

---

nationwide British  

/ ˈneɪʃənˌwaɪd /

adjective

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

   a nationwide survey

---

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

Sticker prices at elite universities nationwide are approaching $100,000 in total costs a year, topping the average U.S. household income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

“You need to make sure that you’ll be able to make those payments for the full length of the policy,” says Morgan & Morgan, a law firm with offices nationwide.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Most Americans who end pregnancies rely on the medications mifepristone and misoprostol, which account for more than half of all abortions nationwide.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Most Iranians are unable to use the internet due to a nationwide internet shutdown.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

He announced a nationwide stay-at-home on March 28, a national Day of Mourning and protest for the atrocities at Sharpeville.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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