English Reference

Word

nationals

Phoneticsna·tion·als

US/ˈnæʃənəɫz/

UK/nˈæʃənəlz/

Definitions

01citizens of a country

B2

n. people who are citizens of a specific country.

n. citizens or subjects of a particular nation, often used in legal or official contexts regarding residency or travel.

“The embassy is responsible for helping its own nationals when they are abroad.”

“The treaty ensures that foreign nationals residing within the territory are granted the same legal protections as local citizens.”

Formal

Usage

Usually plural; often preceded by a country name or the adjective 'foreign'.

Synonyms

Antonyms

02sports competition

B2 · Sport

n. a major sports competition where the best players in a country compete.

n. a nationwide sporting championship or tournament involving competitors from across a single country.

“She practiced every day because she wanted to win the swimming nationals.”

“After winning the regional qualifiers, the team traveled to the capital to compete in the nationals against the country's top-ranked athletes.”

Informal

Usage

Usually plural; often functions as a shorthand for 'national championships'.

Real-World Examples

“The checks, which are random, affect passengers on flights from Italy who are nationals of countries outside the European Union.”
The Local · 17 Aug 2026
“Settling into their seats for the nine-and-a-half-hour journey to London were 230 passengers - including 169 Indian nationals and 53 Britons.”
BBC News · 10 Jun 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference