as in citizens
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nationals
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was used to detain foreign nationals, many of them Japanese, while Executive Order 9066 was used to detain and incarcerate people of Japanese descent from the West Coast en masse, including US citizens.
—
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The individuals on board claimed to be Mexican nationals, according to a news release.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The center said most of the suspects were Syrian or Iraqi, though there were other foreign nationals from Europe as well as Australia, Canada and the United States, among other countries.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
El Salvador was found to have received the most migrants, with approximately 250 third country nationals costing $20,755 per migrant.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
Under the provisions, only foreign nationals holding temporary work visas, such as H‑2B, H‑1B or temporary investor visas from treaty countries, known as E‑2 visas, may be eligible.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
China, one of Japan’s biggest trading partners, responded by reimposing a ban on Japanese seafood imports, implementing restrictions on rare earth mineral exports and warning Chinese nationals against traveling to Japan.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Analysts could not determine whether the conversation in the call between two foreign nationals was gossip or deliberate misinformation, according to the intelligence official.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
As recently as December, her office announced a $7 million SNAP fraud scheme ran by two Haitian nationals.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The individuals on board claimed to be Mexican nationals, according to a news release.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The center said most of the suspects were Syrian or Iraqi, though there were other foreign nationals from Europe as well as Australia, Canada and the United States, among other countries.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
El Salvador was found to have received the most migrants, with approximately 250 third country nationals costing $20,755 per migrant.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
Under the provisions, only foreign nationals holding temporary work visas, such as H‑2B, H‑1B or temporary investor visas from treaty countries, known as E‑2 visas, may be eligible.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
China, one of Japan’s biggest trading partners, responded by reimposing a ban on Japanese seafood imports, implementing restrictions on rare earth mineral exports and warning Chinese nationals against traveling to Japan.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Analysts could not determine whether the conversation in the call between two foreign nationals was gossip or deliberate misinformation, according to the intelligence official.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
As recently as December, her office announced a $7 million SNAP fraud scheme ran by two Haitian nationals.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nationals
citizens
Noun
-
As Japanese American children were detained, so have immigrant children been locked up, some for months on end, in detention centers; some children, including US citizens, have been deported.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The weather service encourages law enforcement officers, firefighters, dispatchers, EMS personnel, utility workers, and private citizens — as well as those affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, and nursing homes — to become spotters.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nationals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nationals. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
