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nationwide

Etymology and origin of the English word nationwide

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1891

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌneɪ.ʃənˈwaɪd/[1]

Etymology

It is a compound of nation and wide,[2][3] also written nation-wide.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Extending over or affecting a whole nation: 1891 in Merriam-Webster,[4] 1895 in Etymonline,[2] the late 19th century in the SOED.[3]

Semantic evolution

The adverb, throughout a whole nation, is also from the late 19th century in the SOED,[3] although Merriam-Webster gives a second first-known date of 1971.[4]

Timeline

  • 1891 – the adjective.[4]
  • 1895 – nation-wide.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Extending throughout or available to a whole nation: a nationwide survey.

Adverb

  1. Throughout a whole nation.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Nationwide.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/nationwide. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·