Meaning of national in English:

national

Pronunciation /ˈnaʃ(ə)n(ə)l/

See synonyms for national

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adjective

1Relating to or characteristic of a nation; common to a whole nation.
‘this policy may have been in the national interest’
- ‘a national newspaper’
- ‘The two-hour show was televised on the national network so the whole country could watch.’
- ‘The national team turns the whole country orange and has a massive appeal to the fans.’
- ‘But the underlining issue is the coverage the game as a whole receives from national media.’
- ‘A sentimental identification with the underdog is one of our national characteristics.’
- ‘It was like our whole dysfunctional national dream had played out in front of the world.’
- ‘Rugby is the one thing New Zealanders are good at, and their whole national identity is wrapped up in it.’
- ‘Others believe that the forging of a common national identity will help eliminate racism.’
- ‘It is just a given, so the whole thing revolves and devolves down to the national interest.’
- ‘Unison and strong voices are required to make a national issue of the whole fiasco!’
- ‘It is a national characteristic that even when there is a cause to celebrate, we seek to undermine it.’
- ‘A firm may even take some of its national characteristics with it when it ventures abroad.’
- ‘For the game in Scotland as a whole, for the national team and even for the Old Firm, that is good news.’
- ‘Europe is stuck, perhaps for generations to come, in the logic of national interest.’
- ‘It is printed on the front page of every issue of the national newspaper, The Neutral Turkmenistan.’
- ‘Such was the media indignation that his frightful suicide was not reported in any national newspaper.’
- ‘We must note that the substantive role of the senators is to protect the national interest.’
- ‘She has written a letter to a national newspaper about the disappearance of the cygnets.’
- ‘I don't think they've even started thinking about a new national anthem.’
- ‘Not only was he convinced that national unity was possible, but also desirable.’
- ‘Maximizing their gains demands a disciplined and rational investment strategy that is truly national in its scope.’
state, public, federal, governmental
nationwide, countrywide, state, coast-to-coast, general, widespread, overall, comprehensive
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1. 1.1Owned, controlled, or financially supported by the state.
  ‘plans for a national art library’
  ‘She feels at the moment there is no way to express support on a national scale.’
  ‘If we do not choose the best to control our national assets, we dare not complain when we get the worst.’
  ‘For the moment the data support a national ultrasound screening programme for aortic aneurysm.’
  ‘The counter is that in a global economy, national control is worth less than pooled resources.’
  ‘The first revolves around the move to put the national companies under direct government control.’
  ‘The arts and the national companies are an essential part of our rich and diverse society.’
  ‘Sales of national art treasures to wealthy foreigners have led to hard feelings.’
  ‘He called for a new appraisal of public health and urged the Government to formulate a national policy on it.’
  ‘Most of the money that finances local government comes from the national coffers.’
  ‘The same principle ought to apply to the national heritage of print stored in national libraries.’
  ‘All the evidence suggests that the wrong people are in charge of both civic and national security.’
  ‘How can the right balance be found between preservation of national treasures and public access to them?’
  ‘Would you expect international and national tribunals to act differently in these respects?’
  ‘Today, the world's first national park still faces challenges and offers marvels.’
  ‘We decided to use an image of Yellowstone because it was the first national park.’

noun

1A citizen of a particular country.
‘a German national’
- ‘Children of foreign nationals born prior to this date automatically received Irish citizenship.’
- ‘This status affords less legal protection than foreign nationals would receive in China.’
- ‘The outbreak of war also meant he had to return to Russia, as he was a foreign national in Germany.’
- ‘Critics complain that the laws violate the human rights of foreign nationals.’
- ‘The occupants of one of the cars were local while the occupants of the other vehicle were all believed to be foreign nationals.’
- ‘English classes are available to foreign nationals, who wish to learn both spoken and written English.’
- ‘Sixteen foreign nationals are currently being held under these conditions in UK prisons.’
- ‘North Korea has admitted to abducting Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.’
- ‘Currently he is only allowed to detain foreign nationals without trial.’
- ‘Still, it is hard to defend detaining foreign nationals without charges or trial.’
- ‘Three Pakistani nationals have now been arrested in London in connection with the seizure.’
- ‘The marines had been hastily deployed to evacuate British nationals from the anarchy.’
- ‘A Ministry of Defence spokesman insisted the troops were being sent only to evacuate British nationals.’
- ‘She would not say if the law could also be extended to Chinese nationals living overseas.’
- ‘The Cambodian government vowed to pay Thailand for the damage caused and to protect Thai nationals who returned.’
- ‘One Saudi national was held for 119 days before being charged.’
- ‘And up next, more than 3 million Mexican nationals live illegally in the United States.’
- ‘Some nations confer citizenship if you marry a national of that country.’
- ‘Britain is evacuating its nationals from the country.’
- ‘Nationals of certain countries have to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland.’
citizen, subject, native, resident, inhabitant
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2usually nationalsA national newspaper as opposed to a local one.
‘the inability of the local press to compete with the nationals for news’
- ‘He was in all the nationals and on the front page of one of the broadsheets by Saturday morning.’
- ‘The new technology could one day be extended to cover British nationals.’
- ‘The protagonist of the book is a journalist who works for a local paper and also freelances for the nationals.’
- ‘And he never fails to come up trumps, his byline appears in all the nationals all the time.’
3usually nationalsA nationwide competition or tournament.
- ‘she finished 16th at the nationals that year’
1. 3.1the National
  short for Grand National