national holiday

noun

1

: a holiday celebrated throughout a nation

especially : one commemorating the birth or independence of a nation

the Bolivian national holiday

2

: a legal holiday established by the central government of a nation rather than by state or local authorities

there are no annual legal national holidays in the United States

—Literary Digest

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!