national
NASH-uh-nuhl
National (adj) means relating to an entire nation or country, rather than just a region or local area. Example: “The story made national news within hours.”
adj
1
Relating to an entire nation or country, rather than just a region or local area.
"The story made national news within hours."
"There's a national holiday next Monday, so the banks will be closed."
"The national football team is playing at home this weekend."
noun
1
A citizen or legal member of a particular country.
"As a British national, she needed a visa to work in the US."
"Foreign nationals must carry their passports when they travel abroad."
"The embassy helps its nationals who get into trouble overseas."
How to use national
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelonging to, or covering, a whole country — as opposed to just one town, state, or region.
Common pairings
national news
national holiday
national security
a foreign national
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like national.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- nationals
- Comparative
- more national
- Superlative
- most national
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The story made _____ news within hours.
Etymology
From French national, built from "nation" plus the adjective ending "-al."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for national
coronal
rational
diagonal
personal
seasonal
optional
regional
hormonal
hexagonal
fictional
emotional
irrational
See all rhymes for national →
Frequently asked questions
What does “national” mean?
The word “national” means relating to an entire nation or country, rather than just a region or local area. In plain terms, belonging to, or covering, a whole country — as opposed to just one town, state, or region.
How do you pronounce “national”?
“National” is pronounced NASH-uh-nuhl (/ˈnæʃ.ə.nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “national” in a sentence?
Here is “national” used in a sentence: “The story made national news within hours.”
What part of speech is “national”?
Depending on how it is used, “national” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “national” come from?
The word “national” comes from French. From French national, built from "nation" plus the adjective ending "-al.".
Is “national” a common word?
“National” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “national” have?
“National” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to an entire nation or country, rather than just a region or local area.
What is the difference between national and local?
'National' relates to an entire country, affecting everyone within it — such as a national holiday or national law. 'Local' relates only to a particular town, city, or small area. A national newspaper covers the whole country, while a local one reports on the affairs of a single community.
What is the difference between national and international?
'National' refers to matters within a single country, while 'international' involves two or more countries. A national team represents one nation; an international match is played between different nations. The prefix 'inter-' means 'between', so international describes anything that crosses borders rather than staying inside one country.
What is an example of something national?
Common examples include a national anthem, a national flag, a national holiday, and national news. Each applies to a whole country rather than one region — the national anthem represents the entire nation, and a national holiday is observed everywhere within its borders on the same day.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include national:
