national-level

IPA/nˈaʃənəllˈɛvəl/
IPA/nˈæʃənəllˈɛvəl/

national-level — idiom

1. involving or affecting the whole of a country, rather than just one local area o

1.idiomB2
Definition

involving or affecting the whole of a country, rather than just one local area or region within it

Example

The government launched a national-level investigation into the recent banking crisis.

national-level + noun (investigation)

Mira received a national-level award for her research on solar energy projects.

Common collocations
  • national-level competition
  • national-level award
  • national-level policy
  • national-level investigation
  • national-level championship
  • national-level meeting
Synonyms
  • nationwide

    emphasises geographic reach across the entire country; more common in everyday speech than 'national-level'

  • federal

    used mainly in the US, Canada, or other federal systems; implies government or official institutions at the central level

  • countrywide

    similar to 'nationwide', slightly less formal

Antonyms
  • local

    relating to a specific town, city, or small area rather than the whole country

  • regional

    covering a region within a country, not the entire nation

Grammar Patterns

national-level + noun

be + national-level

Usage Note

The hyphen between 'national' and 'level' is normally kept when the compound appears before a noun (e.g., "a national-level competition"). After the verb 'be', the hyphen is often dropped: "This competition is national level."

Etymology

English

A compound adjective formed from 'national' (relating to a nation) and 'level' (a position or degree on a scale). The hyphenated form became common in the mid-20th century as a way to describe organisations, standards, or events that operate at the scale of an entire country.