I. ˈnashən ə l, -shnəl, -ˈnaash-, ˈnaish- adjective
Etymology: Middle French, from nation + -al
1. : of or relating to a nation: as
a. : of, affecting, or involving a nation as a whole especially as distinguished from subordinate areas
the national desire to win a war — E.L.Bernays
the Republican party is not national in scope — Arthur Krock
national newspapers
national advertising
— compare local
b. : of, relating to, or affecting one nation as distinguished from several nations or a supranational group
protected only by national action in concert with that of another power — O.W.Holmes †1935
the basis … is neither national nor continental but planetary — Lewis Mumford
a national king
— compare international
c. : identified with or symbolic of a specific nation
regards wine and brandy as national beverages — G.G.Weigend
the national poet of the empire — James Bryce
national game
national flower
national costume
d. : having a size or importance of significance for a nation as a whole
his performances … brought him national distinction — Providence (R.I.) Evening Bulletin
a vice-president … is not a national figure in the fullest sense — R.H.Rovere
2. : nationalist
intensely national
3. : of, having the characteristics of, or being a nationality
his national accent was plainly audible — Elinor Wylie
the doctrine of national self-determination acquired greater prominence — Oscar Handlin
the various national groups that settled in the state — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
4. : of, maintained, or sponsored by the government of a nation
one mile from a national tarred road — advt
one of four national cemeteries in Louisiana — American Guide Series: Louisiana
a national park
5. : of, relating to, or being a government formed in a parliamentary system by representatives of most or all major political parties usually in a period of crisis
6. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting a minor political party composed of the Greenbackers
7. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or being a major political party in New Zealand generally favoring private enterprise and tending to represent agricultural and business as contrasted with labor interests
the anti-Labour forces represented in the National party are miscellaneous — Alexander Brady
II. noun
( -s )
1. : one that owes permanent allegiance to a nation without regard to place of residence or to possession of a more formal status (as that of citizen or subject)
citizens of Guam and nationals but not citizens of the United States — D.L.Oliver
under that act a person might be a Canadian national without being a British subject — T.N.M.Buesst
American nationals in China
2. : national blue
3. : the national or major competition held in various sports — usually used in plural
runner-up to the champion in the nationals — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
4. : an organization (as a fraternity or labor union) having local units on a nationwide basis
Synonyms: see citizen