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

Cantor has clearly benefitted from its ties to Lutnick, becoming a big underwriter of deals aligned with the administration’s crypto, AI, energy, and national security agenda. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026

The $311 million does not include any revenue from the club’s rights deal with SNY or distributions from MLB for its national media and sponsorship deals. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Noun

The Salvadoran national’s case has become a focal point in the immigration debate after he was mistakenly deported to his home country last year. —Travis Loller, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

Sosa-Celis is a Venezuelan national accused of assaulting an ICE officer during a chaotic Minneapolis arrest last month. —Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026