# international

/ˌɪnɝˈnæʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ˌɪntənˈæʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/international
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. between nations

adjective · CEFR A2

involving two or more different countries.

For teachers: relating to, occurring between, or involving two or more nations.

- The city has a large international airport with flights to every continent.
- The treaty requires international cooperation to effectively manage carbon emissions across borders.

### 2. sports player

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a person who plays a sport for their national team.

For teachers: an athlete who has represented their country in a specific sport at the senior level.

- The retired rugby international now works as a commentator on television.
- As a former international with fifty caps for her country, she brought invaluable experience to the coaching staff.

Usage: Often used with a number, such as 'a former England international'.

Teaching tip: This sense is very common in UK and Australian sports media but rare in American English.

### 3. sports match

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a game or competition between the national teams of different countries.

For teachers: a sporting contest played between two national representative teams.

- The stadium was packed for the football international between France and Spain.
- The upcoming autumn internationals will serve as a crucial benchmark for the team's progress ahead of the world championships.

### 4. political group

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a large group of political parties from different countries that share the same ideas.

For teachers: a transnational organisation of political parties or movements sharing a common ideology.

- The historian wrote a book about the socialist international in the nineteenth century.
- The delegates sought to coordinate their efforts through the newly formed international, aiming for a unified policy across Europe.

Usage: Often capitalised when referring to a specific historical group.

Teaching tip: Usually refers to historical socialist or communist organisations like the 'First International'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.