adjective / noun
national
Relating to a nation.
The national government sets policies that affect the entire country.
Etymology
The adjective adds a relating-to ending to nation. It identifies what belongs to or concerns a nation as a whole.
More examples
- The crowd stands as the band plays the national anthem.
- She is a Canadian national living in the United States.
- The embassy helps its nationals replace lost passports.
Forms
national · nationals
nationally adverb — In a way involving the whole country.
nationality noun — Legal membership in a particular nation.
Similar words
- nationwide
- Applies across the whole country rather than merely relating to it.
- citizen
- Specifies citizenship, while a national may lack full citizenship rights.