/ ˈnæʃnəl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
connected with a particular nation; shared by a whole nation :
national and local newspapers
national and international news
national and regional politics
a national election
These buildings are part of our national heritage.
They are afraid of losing their national identity.
2.
owned, controlled or paid for by the government :
a national airline / museum / theatre
■ noun
( technical ) a citizen of a particular country :
Polish nationals living in Germany
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French , from Latin natio(n-) birth, race of people, from nat- born, from the verb nasci .