DictionaryAI

international

in-tur-NASH-uh-nuhl/ˌɪn.(t)ɚˈnæʃ.(ə.)n(ə)l/UKin-tuh-NASH-uh-nuhl/ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.(ə.)n(ə)l/

Noun pluralinternationals

7 meanings of international

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Existing or happening between two or more nations, or involving, affecting or serving several nations at once, as international trade, law or flights do.

    The dispute was settled through international arbitration between the two states.

    Diplomats negotiated an international agreement covering both nations' waters.

    UsageUsually before a noun: an international agreement, international trade. It can also be graded: a more international outlook.

    Oppositenational

    Note

    Every sense here starts from one coinage. Jeremy Bentham joined inter- and national in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, printed in 1780 and published in 1789.

  2. 2
    from another landadjective
    Foreign; belonging to or coming from another nation.

    The university welcomed many international students this semester.

    He developed a taste for international cuisine while traveling.

    UsageOften a friendlier choice than foreign for people: international students, international visitors.

    Similarforeign, overseas

    Oppositedomestic, local

    Note

    A sense seen from the host's side. An international student or player is one who has come from elsewhere. Steve Ginsburg's 2014 report on international players in the National Basketball Association shows the pattern: the league has National in its name, but these players were born outside the United States. Unlike the sense of dealings between nations, nothing passes between countries here. The word simply marks where a person comes from.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • Steve Ginsburg wrote a 2014 report about international players in the NBA. en.wiktionary.org
    • The NBA has teams in both the United States and Canada; National is part of its name. en.wikipedia.org
  3. 3
    adjective
    Not limited by national borders; shared by all people.

    Scientific knowledge is international, owned by no single country.

    Laughter is truly international, understood by people in every culture whether or not they share a language.

    Similaruniversal, global, worldwide, cosmopolitan

    Oppositelocal, parochial

    Note

    Here the word stops counting nations and looks past them. What is international in this sense belongs to everyone at once and to no single country, as scientific knowledge or laughter can be. The "between nations" meaning needs at least two parties, but this one needs none: the atmosphere is an international resource.

  4. 4
    national playernounAustraliaBritishIrelandcountable
    A sportsperson who has represented their country in a particular sport.

    As a former international, he now coaches the youth squad.

    The team includes several internationals who have played for England.

    UsageThe country usually comes first as a noun: an England international, a Wales rugby international.

    Note

    A sporting noun at home in Britain, Ireland and Australia. Anyone who has played for the national side earns the title, so it stays with a player after retirement. Arthur Conan Doyle's The Poison Belt (1913) capitalizes it, "he's an International," as though it were a rank.

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    nounAustraliaBritainIrelandcountable
    A game or contest played between teams from two or more nations.

    She scored a hat-trick in the international against France.

    The two nations have met in over fifty internationals.

    UsageOften with a sport or against: a rugby international, the international against France.

    Note

    Paul Clifton, writing in RAIL in 2023, places rugby internationals alongside racing at Ascot and tennis at Wimbledon among major national events. This sense shares its regional home with the player who represents a country, so in those varieties the plural can name either. A verb such as played or won usually makes clear which is meant.

  2. 6
    party alliancenouncountable
    A cross-border organization uniting political parties from different countries that share a similar ideology.

    The party joined an international that brought together green movements worldwide.

    Several internationals emerged in the early twentieth century to coordinate leftist parties.

    UsageCapitalized with the, the International names one particular association; otherwise it is any such body: an international of green parties.

    Note

    In politics, the word names a body whose members are mainly parties rather than governments, held together by a shared ideology across borders.

  3. 7
    adjective
    Relating to or connected with the political association known as the International.

Practice

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Origin

Jeremy Bentham brought this word into modern English, building it from the prefix inter- and national, in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (printed 1780, published 1789).