What does "national" mean?
A subject of a nation.
National
/ˈnæʃ.ə.nəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A subject of a nation.
- Grammar: national is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: all comprehensive, all embracing, all inclusive, all pervading.
- Useful contrasts: global, african continent, alien.
- Usage evidence: The French government has launched an online game that challenges taxpayers to balance the national budget.
How to use "national"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "national" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "national" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "national" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "national" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "national" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "all comprehensive" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "national", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A subject of a nation.
"The diplomats were advised not to interact with any foreign nationals except on official duty."
- 2 A member of the National Party Australian, New-Zealand
- 3 a person who owes allegiance to that nation wordnet
- 4 A tournament in which participants from all over the nation compete. plural-normally
"After winning the regional tournament, the team advanced to the nationals."
- 5 Clipping of New Zealand National Party New-Zealand, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A national newspaper. plural-normally
"I had a crush on Bardot / Fell in love with Monroe / Read about 'em in the nationals / All the juicy little scandals"
- 7 Somebody born under the authority of a given State.
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to a nation or country, especially as a whole; affecting, shared by, or existing throughout all of a nation.
"a national assembly · on the front page of every national newspaper"
- 2 Belonging to or characteristic of a specific nation or country, as opposed to others.
"this is their national dish · our national tendency to laugh at the French"
- 3 Nationalistic; patriotic. archaic
"‘Come, come, don't deny it: they are really national. Why, now, the Adams are as liberal-minded men as any in the world: but, I don't know how it is, all their workmen are Scotch.’"
Adjective
- 1 inside the country wordnet
- 2 concerned with or applicable to or belonging to an entire nation or country wordnet
- 3 limited to or in the interests of a particular nation wordnet
- 4 owned or maintained for the public by the national government wordnet
- 5 of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 of or relating to nationality wordnet
- 7 characteristic of or peculiar to the people of a nation wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The French government has launched an online game that challenges taxpayers to balance the national budget."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "national"?
Common synonyms include: all comprehensive, all embracing, all inclusive, all pervading, all-comprehending, all-comprehensive.
How do you use "national" in a sentence?
The French government has launched an online game that challenges taxpayers to balance the national budget.
How do you pronounce "national"?
Pronounced /ˈnæʃ.ə.nəl/.
Etymology
From Middle French national, corresponding to nation + -al.