subnational
adjective
sub·na·tion·al
ˌsəb-ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl 
variants
or sub-national
: existing or occurring below a national level : relating to or being a group or region within a nation
a subnational government
members of a subnational culture
Nations with differing political and economic systems are flourishing. Sub-national groups, with varied and contradictory agendas, are on the rise.—
Fareed Zakaria
Fareed ZakariaExamples of subnational in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Prigozhin was effectively a political-military baron, maintaining personal, vassal-like ties to Putin and key handlers in the Kremlin (a curious position similar to that of the subnational dictator of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov).
—Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2024
Apart from China, which has long engaged with armed groups along its shared border, Myanmar’s other neighbors are wary that developing deeper relationships with subnational administrations could draw the ire of the junta.
—Richard Horsey, Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2024
The state will also launch an international climate partnership among subnational jurisdictions with similar Mediterranean climates and will participate in a local climate action summit.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
On a subnational level, too, leftists outside the United States have put sloganeering aside to pursue concrete goals in office and show what their ideals can look like in real life.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subnational 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2024
Apart from China, which has long engaged with armed groups along its shared border, Myanmar’s other neighbors are wary that developing deeper relationships with subnational administrations could draw the ire of the junta.
—Richard Horsey, Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2024
The state will also launch an international climate partnership among subnational jurisdictions with similar Mediterranean climates and will participate in a local climate action summit.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
On a subnational level, too, leftists outside the United States have put sloganeering aside to pursue concrete goals in office and show what their ideals can look like in real life.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subnational
Dictionary Entries Near subnational
Cite this Entry
“Subnational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subnational. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share