Definition of national
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: of or relating to a nation
national boundaries the national flag
2
: nationalist
3
: comprising or characteristic of a nationality
his national accent was plainly audible— Elinor Wylie
4
: belonging to or maintained by the federal government
the National Museum of American History
5
: of, relating to, or being a coalition (see coalition sense 2) government formed by most or all major political parties usually in a crisis
national
nounDefinition of national (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: one that owes allegiance to or is under the protection of a nation without regard to the more formal status of citizen or subject
2
: a competition that is national in scope
—usually used in plural
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for national
The first known use of national was in 1580
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