National is used to describe something that belongs to or is typical of a particular country or nation.
Nationalist is usually a noun. A nationalist is someone who tries to obtain political independence for his or her country.
You can also use nationalist as an adjective to describe people, movements, or ideas.
If someone is very proud of their country and thinks it is better than other countries, you can say that they or their views are nationalistic. This word is always used to indicate disapproval of someone's views.
Normally, if someone is proud of their country, you say that they or their feelings are patriotic. This word is usually used to indicate approval of someone's feelings.
| Noun | 1. | national - a person who owes allegiance to that nation; "a monarch has a duty to his subjects"individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" nation, country, land - the people who live in a nation or country; "a statement that sums up the nation's mood"; "the news was announced to the nation"; "the whole country worshipped him" citizen - a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community compatriot - a person from your own country nationalist, patriot - one who loves and defends his or her country |
| Adj. | 1. | national - of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country; "national hero"; "national anthem"; "a national landmark" |
| 2. | national - limited to or in the interests of a particular nation; "national interests"; "isolationism is a strictly national policy" domestic - of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation; "domestic issues such as tax rate and highway construction" international - concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations; "international affairs"; "an international agreement"; "international waters" | |
| 3. | national - 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" local - relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area; "local taxes"; "local authorities" | |
| 4. | national - owned or maintained for the public by the national government; "national parks" public - not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures" | |
| 5. | national - inside the country; "the British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior"; "the nation's internal politics" domestic - of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation; "domestic issues such as tax rate and highway construction" | |
| 6. | national - characteristic of or peculiar to the people of a nation; "a national trait" | |
| 7. | national - of or relating to nationality; "national origin" |