# national

/ˈnæʃənəɫ/ (US) · /nˈæʃənəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. relating to a whole country

adjective · CEFR A2

relating to a whole country rather than just one part of it.

For teachers: pertaining to a nation as a whole; affecting or shared by the entire country.

- The president addressed the people on national television last night.
- The government implemented a national strategy to improve literacy rates across all provinces, regardless of local funding levels.

### 2. characteristic of a nation

adjective · CEFR B1

typical of a specific country or its people.

For teachers: belonging to or characteristic of a specific nation, often in contrast to others.

- The eagle is the national symbol of the United States.
- The museum houses a vast collection of national treasures that reflect the country's unique artistic heritage.

### 3. a citizen

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a person who is a citizen of a particular country.

For teachers: a citizen or subject of a specific nation, often used in legal or official contexts.

- The embassy helps its nationals when they have trouble abroad.
- The treaty ensures that foreign nationals receive the same legal protections as local citizens during their stay.

### 4. a large competition

noun · CEFR B1

a sports competition where the best players from the whole country play.

For teachers: a tournament or competition in which participants from across the entire nation compete for a title.

- After winning the regional race, she qualified for the nationals.
- The young gymnast spent months training for the nationals, hoping to secure a spot on the Olympic team.

## Examples

- The embassy helps its nationals when they travel abroad.
- The government arranged a special flight to evacuate all of its nationals from the conflict zone.
- International law provides certain protections for foreign nationals, ensuring they have access to consular services if they are detained while visiting another country.

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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.