nationwide

1 of 2

adjective

na·​tion·​wide ˌnā-shən-ˈwīd How to pronounce nationwide (audio)
Synonyms of nationwidenext
: 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
Even as hospitals increasingly collect more upfront payments, however, their uncollected debt is also rising, according to data Kodiak collected from more than 2,300 hospitals nationwide. — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 The company operates a nationwide system of license plate reader cameras, as well as other law enforcement assistance technologies, that allow agencies to more accurately identify specific vehicles that may have been involved in a crime. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Gaden arrived at Memorial with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, including 15 years as a senior executive leading complex, multi-hospital systems nationwide. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 Revenue in 2025 hit $333 million, up 35% from 2024, with 5,000 schools nationwide paying for the service. — Sarah Whitmire, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for nationwide

See All Rhymes for nationwide

Browse Nearby Words

nation-state
nationwide
native
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nationwide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationwide. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nationwide

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

More from Merriam-Webster on nationwide

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nationwide

Nglish: Translation of nationwide for Spanish Speakers

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