Origin: Latin suffix -al
National has 11 different meanings across 2 categories:
A subject of a nation.
"The national party candidate won the election by a landslide margin."
A member of the National Party
In plain English: A national is a person who belongs to a specific country.
"The national of that country was celebrated for their bravery in war."
Usage: Use "national" as a noun only when specifically referring to a member of the National political party or in very rare historical contexts regarding national guards; otherwise, use it strictly as an adjective describing something belonging to a nation. In standard everyday English, this word functions exclusively as an adjective and should never stand alone as a noun to mean "a citizen."
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
"national hero"
"national anthem"
"a national landmark"
limited to or in the interests of a particular nation
"national interests"
"isolationism is a strictly national policy"
concerned with or applicable to or belonging to an entire nation or country
"the national government"
"national elections"
"of national concern"
"the national highway system"
"national forests"
Pertaining to a nation or country, especially as a whole; affecting, shared by, or existing throughout all of a nation.
"The national holiday was celebrated across every state with parades and fireworks."
In plain English: National means belonging to or involving an entire country.
"The national anthem is played at every sports event."
Usage: Use "national" to describe something that exists across an entire country, such as national parks or national security. Avoid using it for individual citizens unless referring to their status within the nation.
The word entered English from Middle French as national, which was formed by combining the root nation with the suffix -al. It originally described things related to a specific people or country before taking on its modern sense of belonging to a sovereign state.