national
gb/nˈæʃnəl/ us/nˈæʃnəl/
A2
English
~ 300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Relating to a whole country
About or connected to a whole country, not just one part.
Usage pattern:
[national] [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'national' with 'international'. 'National' means within one country; 'international' means between countries.
Synonyms
countrywide (Emphasizes coverage across the entire country, often for events or policies.)
Antonyms
local (Refers to a small area or community rather than the entire country.)
Collocations
national government
|national holiday
|national security
|national identity
|national anthem
Themes
politics
|society
|geography
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The national government announced new environmental policies.
- She won a national award for her research.
- National security is a top priority for the administration.
- The national anthem was played before the game.
- National pride was high after the team's victory.
Learner examples
- The national flag has three colors.
- We have a national holiday next week.
- The national museum is in the capital city.
- They sang the national song before the match.
- The national park is very big.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Citizen of a specific country
A person who belongs to a country by law or birth.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] national of [country]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'national' (noun) with 'native'. 'National' refers to legal citizenship, not necessarily place of birth or ethnicity.
Synonyms
citizen (General term for someone with legal membership of a state; 'national' can be more formal or legalistic.)
Antonyms
foreigner (Someone who is not a citizen of the specified country.)
Collocations
foreign national
|dual national
|Japanese national
Themes
law
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Three foreign nationals were arrested at the border.
- She is a French national living in Canada.
- The embassy helps its nationals abroad in emergencies.
- Dual nationals can hold citizenship in two countries.
- The law applies to all nationals and residents.
Learner examples
- He is a British national.
- Two foreign nationals visited our school.
- I met a Canadian national on the tour.
- The embassy helps its nationals.
- She is an Italian national.
Grammar
Dictionary form
national
IPA
GB/nˈæʃnəl/
US/nˈæʃnəl/
Syllables & stress
na - tion - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (na)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: national
Noun
- Base: national
- Plural: nationals
Word family
Forms
nationals
noun
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
international
adjective B1
Related words
internationally
adverb B2
multinational
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
Expressions
national anthem
1/nˈæʃnəl ˈænθəm/
fixed phrase
Official song of a country
The official song of a country, usually played at special events.
Examples
- Everyone stood for the national anthem before the match.
- The orchestra played the national anthem at the ceremony.
national holiday
1/nˈæʃnəl hˈɑlɪdˌeɪ/
fixed phrase
Countrywide public holiday
A day when everyone in the country does not work to celebrate something important.
Examples
- Independence Day is a national holiday in many countries.
- Shops will be closed on the national holiday.
national identity
1/nˈæʃnəl aɪdˈɛntɪti/
fixed phrase
Shared characteristics of a nation
The ideas, culture, and history that make people feel part of their country.
Examples
- Language plays an important role in national identity.
- The war changed the nation's sense of national identity.
national park
1/nˈæʃnəl pˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
Protected natural area by government
A large area of land kept by the government for nature and for people to visit.
Examples
- We went hiking in the national park last weekend.
- Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the United States.
national security
1/nˈæʃnəl sɪkjˈʊɹɪti/
fixed phrase
Protection of a country's safety
Keeping a country safe from attack or other serious danger.
Examples
- National security is one of the government's main responsibilities.
- The new law was passed to improve national security.