nationwide

1 of 2

adjective

na·​tion·​wide ˌnā-shən-ˈwīd How to pronounce nationwide (audio)
: extending throughout a nation

nationwide

2 of 2

adverb

: throughout the nation

Examples of nationwide in a Sentence

Adjective The murders attracted nationwide attention.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
That was the nationwide trial of Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 While Rite Aid has not officially confirmed a specific end date for operations nationwide, numerous individual stores have posted closing signs, and liquidation sales are underway across multiple states. Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Adverb
Southern Baptist churches lost more than a quarter-million members nationwide in 2024, the 18th straight year of decline, but saw baptism and attendance numbers rise. Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 10 May 2025 The doughnuts were mostly available for now in Kentucky and Indiana but were set to expand nationwide by the end of 2026. Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for nationwide

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1891, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nationwide was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nationwide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationwide. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

nationwide

adjective
na·​tion·​wide
ˌnā-shən-ˈwīd
: extending throughout a nation
nationwide phone service

More from Merriam-Webster on nationwide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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