Synonyms of national

national 1 of 2

adjective

ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl 

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

• federal
• civil
• internal
• municipal
• public
• government
• democratic
• civic
• governmental
• domestic
• nationwide
• republican
• intestine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• international
• global
• foreign
• nonnational
• external
• alien

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

• citizen
• resident
• subject
• freeman
• inhabitant
• native
• countryman
• compatriot
• nonimmigrant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alien
• stranger
• foreigner
• immigrant
• noncitizen
• nonnative

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

Recent Examples of national

Adjective

The tragedy marked the rare occasion of workplace safety making it into the national news. — Matt Helmer, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Trust in other sources of information about election outcomes — such as national news outlets or cable news networks — is also low overall. — Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Noun

Two Chinese nationals were arrested in China after allegedly supplying synthetic drugs that prosecutors say were imported into the United States and later distributed to inmates at federal and state prisons nationwide. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

On Tuesday, in an effort to ease concerns, the government gave undocumented East African nationals 90 days to obtain or update the documents required to stay and do business in Kenya. — Michael Kaloki, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026