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

His work has received dozens of national and regional awards. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025

The Fajr Film Festival, once a national cinematic platform, evolved into a mouthpiece for the regime. —Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025

Noun

Federal officials said the investigation began in September 2022 when the FBI and members of the Hartford Police Department interviewed several Mexican nationals who reported that they were smuggled from Mexico into the country and transported to Hartford. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025

But under the new rules, a business must now be 100% owned by U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or those who have had green cards for at least six months. —Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025