international

1 of 2

adjective

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al ˌin-tər-ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or affecting two or more nations

international trade

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a group or association having members in two or more nations

international movement

3

: active, known, or reaching beyond national boundaries

an international reputation

internationality

ˌin-tər-ˌna-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

internationally

ˌin-tər-ˈna-sh(ə-)nə-lē 

adverb

international

2 of 2

noun

: one that is international

especially : an organization of international scope

Synonyms

Adjective

• foreign
• multinational
• transnational

Examples of international in a Sentence

Adjective

an international association of chemists

She has achieved international fame.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Most recently, heavy rains forced road closures that cut off traffic for weeks at a time, while international tourism faltered during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to recover. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

In 2021, lawyers proposed codifying ecocide into international criminal law, putting it on par with genocide. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune Europe, 9 June 2024

Noun

No doubt the fact that World Central Kitchen, the victims of the attack, were internationals, is the kind of thing that attract morse attention. —CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024

It is expected that the death toll could then rise by several hundred, said Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty international in Kenya. —David McKenzie, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1870, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing international

• international date line
• international law
• international pitch
• international relations
• international unit
• the international date line

Kids Definition

international

1 of 2 adjective

in·​ter·​na·​tion·​al ˌint-ər-ˈnash-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, affecting, or involving two or more nations

international trade

2

: active, known, or reaching beyond national boundaries

an international reputation

internationally

-ˈnash-nə-lē 

-ən-ᵊl-ē

adverb

international

2 of 2 noun

: an organization having branches in more than one country