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
And at the national level, industry trade groups like the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association are aggressively pushing for more preemption powers in an attempt to create more unified standards. — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026 So the president has the ability under the statute to be able to look at national interests. — NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
Then, two Ukrainian nationals were arrested, raising questions about state involvement and presenting a test of loyalty for some of Kyiv’s European allies. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 Abdulrahman Alfozan, a national of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was arrested in connection to the case last week, the DOJ said. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 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
  • The donation is intended to benefit children age 10 and under who aren’t eligible for the federal government’s separate $1,000 contribution for children born between 2025 and 2028.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the department would need to seek an order from a federal judge in the District Court for the District of Columbia.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of federal
Noun
  • That year, after Israeli officials castigated Qatar for allegedly financing Hamas, the Qataris began demanding formal documentation of an arrangement the two governments had agreed was meant to provide relief to citizens of the beleaguered enclave.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But many citizens don’t own that innovation and so miss out on its profits.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of citizen
Adjective
  • About 300 military personnel, police and rescue workers searched along Ensenada’s El Pipila stream Tuesday, while the Mexican Navy continued looking for the missing fishermen, state civil protection authorities said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Jamie Majerus, the civil attorney representing five surrogates suing Xuan and Zhang for fraud, has alleged in court filings that the couple also presented an attorney of their choosing to the mothers.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of civil
Adjective
  • Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students following an internal investigation, but no criminal charges have been filed.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Caplan said that Weiss’s consistent internal communication on his action plan—addressing nine areas, including facilities, visitor experience, technology, and security—has already helped with morale.
    — Hilarie M. Sheets, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of internal
Adjective
  • Voters must live within the city or town limits for at least 30 days before Election Day to vote in a North Carolina municipal election.
    — Eva Flowe October 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • City officials warn the proposal could significantly impact local municipal budgets.
    — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of municipal
Adjective
  • However, the bill would also preempt certain state requirements covering public risk disclosures, independent evaluations, and critical incident reporting.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In ten countries, interest payments eclipse the entire public investment budget.
    — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Adjective
  • The Saudis countered with an air campaign and ground force composed of Yemeni pro-government paramilitary factions, Saudi and Emirati troops and mercenaries.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One was a patronage-heavy, pro-government machine; the other an adversarial independent sector.
    — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 13 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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