NATIONAL

nation - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Etymology

From Middle French national, corresponding to nation +‎ -al.

Adjective

national (comparative more national, superlative most national)

1. Pertaining to a nation or country, especially as a whole; affecting, shared by, or existing throughout all of a nation. [from 16th c.]

a national assembly · on the front page of every national newspaper

Import tariffs were raised for the national interest.

2. Belonging to or characteristic of a specific nation or country, as opposed to others. [from 17th c.]

this is their national dish · our national tendency to laugh at the French

3. (now rare) Nationalistic; patriotic. [from 17th c.] quotations ▼

Usage notes

See nation for notes regarding the usage of national to refer to the UK and its member states.