national 1 of 2

adjective

ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce national (audio)
Definition of nationalnext
as in federal
of or relating to a nation played the home team's national anthem before the start of the soccer game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

national

2 of 2

noun

as in citizen
a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it recommended that foreign nationals living in the region evacuate immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word national distinct from other similar nouns?

The words citizen and subject are common synonyms of national. While all three words mean "a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state," national designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state.

American nationals working in the Middle East

When can citizen be used instead of national?

The synonyms citizen and national are sometimes interchangeable, but citizen is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people.

the rights of a free citizen

In what contexts can subject take the place of national?

The words subject and national can be used in similar contexts, but subject implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch.

the king's subjects

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of national
Adjective
Beyond aiding timber production, repealing the national rule could expand access for mining and other extractive operations, opponents say. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 More recently, Sanders and Khanna have co-sponsored a bill that would impose a national wealth tax of five per cent on billionaires, which Khanna says would raise four hundred billion dollars a year. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
Also last week, the government rolled out tougher rules for foreign nationals who want to live in Japan. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 The two other people are Bermudian nationals, the Coast Guard said, adding families have been notified. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for national
Recent Examples of Synonyms for national
  1. federal
  2. citizen
  3. civil
  4. internal
  5. municipal
  6. public
  7. government
Adjective
  • Ramanan entered a plea agreement last year and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
    — Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The constitutional question has been litigated many times, and by our count, every state or federal appellate court that’s ruled on the issue has concluded that ALPR networks are within bounds of the Fourth Amendment.
    — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of federal
Noun
  • Advertisement Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents, can vote in some local elections but cannot vote in federal or state elections.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect is Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, multiple sources from three agencies briefed on the investigation and a diplomat in the Middle East told NBC News.
    — Tom Winter, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of citizen
Adjective
  • He was found guilty in a subsequent civil trial, yet still awarded custody of the divorced couple’s two children.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese authorities have tightened their grip on the media, the legal profession, and civil society, limiting the space for Chinese citizens to discuss mounting social woes and extinguishing emerging calls for deeper political reform.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of civil
Adjective
  • Initially, 18 full-size models were built during an internal competition called Project Renaissance, from which the winning design was selected.
    — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Yet some companies still operate on the old assumption that almost every internal system should be bought, even when AI and modern development tools make custom workflows far more feasible.
    — Malte Kramer, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of internal
Adjective
  • She’s mentored by Jae (Major Curda), a member of Ellora’s municipal Bending Brigade, and his captain Karthik (Akshay Khanna), who has a more optimistic view of the Avatar’s potential than those that blame her for ending the world.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Most municipal services could continue or transition upon annexation.
    — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of municipal
Adjective
  • But Milei is trying to recast Argentina as a destination for foreign wealth, slashing public spending, dismantling regulations and courting investment in the country's vast oil and mineral resources.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Decisions about industrial policy, infrastructure, public spending, and competition increasingly have to account not only for emissions but climate risk.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Adjective
  • Video posted on social media by activists accompanying pro-government factions depicted what was said to be the aftermath of attacks on Houthi positions along the Red Sea coast.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Thus, the legislation requires more transparency of HOA operators over the administration of these communities, which can operate as a quasi-government entity.
    — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of government

Browse Nearby Words

nation
national
national guard
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Cite this Entry

“National.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/national. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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