national
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit.
national affairs.
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owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government.
a national wildlife refuge.
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peculiar or common to the whole people of a country.
national customs.
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devoted to one's own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic.
to stir up national pride.
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concerning or encompassing an entire nation.
a national radio network.
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limited to one nation.
noun
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a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled to its protection.
U.S. nationals living abroad.
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Often nationals. a national competition, tournament, or the like.
We're invited to Minneapolis for the nationals.
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a national company or organization.
adjective
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of, involving, or relating to a nation as a whole
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular nation
the national dress of Poland
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rare nationalistic or patriotic
noun
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a citizen or subject
-
a national newspaper
noun
Other Word Forms
- antinational adjective
- antinationally adverb
- nationally adverb
- nonnational adjective
- nonnationally adverb
- prenational adjective
- pronational adjective
- pseudonational adjective
- pseudonationally adverb
- quasi-national adjective
- quasi-nationally adverb
- subnational adjective
- unnational adjective
- unnationally adverb
Etymology
Origin of national
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.
With the constitutional changes passed, national discussions are now dominated by speculation over the identity of the new vice-president.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
With their 51-44 victory over the burned Orange, the Bruins have advanced to the national championship game Sunday against a physically dominant group from powerhouse South Carolina.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
Giuliani, on the other hand, made national headlines as “America’s mayor” for his leadership during the 9/11 crisis, and immediately became a plausible candidate for president.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
But only the men who happen to pull on the jersey of the national soccer team have proven themselves capable of turning tragedy from high art into national humiliation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
British Airways, the United Kingdom’s national commercial passenger airline, didn’t hire its first female pilot, Lynn Barton, until 1987.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
