international

Etymology

inter- + national. Introduced in modern English by Jeremy Bentham in his An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1780.

adj

1. Of or having to do with more than one nation.
   1. between or among nations
      an international discussion
   2. participated in by two or more nations
      an international competition
   3. common to, or affecting, two or more nations.
      an international rule
   4. serving two or more nations
      an international airport
2. Of or concerning the association called the International.
3. Independent of national boundaries; common to all people.
   It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. It is a tax system that is pivotal in creating the increasing inequality that marks most advanced countries today – with America standing out in the forefront and the UK not far behind. 2013-06-07, Joseph Stiglitz, “Globalisation is about taxes too”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 19
   the atmosphere is an international resource.
   the international community of scholars.
4. Foreign; of another nation.
   an international student
   The number of international players in the National Basketball Association has increased 10 percent from one year ago, the league said on Monday. October 27 2014, Steve Ginsburg, “More international players than ever before, league says”, in Reuters

noun

1. (sports, chiefly Britain, Ireland) Someone who has represented their country in a particular sport.
   The United team includes five England internationals.
2. (sports, chiefly Britain, Ireland) A game or contest between two or more nations.
   SWR has more than its fair share of major national events. As well as the [Queen's] funeral and the coronation in the past 12 months, annual events include racing at Ascot, grand slam tennis at Wimbledon, and rugby internationals at Twickenham. July 26 2023, Paul Clifton, “A (safe and secure) Day at the Races...”, in RAIL, number 988, page 35
3. (politics) A transnational organization of political parties of similar ideology.