WordGarden.iosubnational
Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Adjective
relating to a state, province, region, or other level below the nation as a whole
Beyond the definition
Think of a country like a big puzzle. "National" refers to the whole puzzle—the entire nation. "Subnational" means the pieces within that puzzle—things like states, provinces, counties, or even cities. It refers to anything that exists below the level of the central national government. You might study subnational variations in voting patterns, meaning how different regions within a single country vote differently.
The term is often used when discussing politics, geography, and statistics. For example, researchers studying climate change might look at subnational data to understand regional impacts more clearly. It's a useful term because countries are not all the same in every area; they are made up of different places with their own features. Think about the different cultures within Italy—each region has its own traditions, and those traditions are examples of subnational cultural life.
"Subnational" describes anything that exists at a level below that of a country as a whole. It's a term frequently used in fields like political science, geography, economics, and public health to emphasize the importance of local or regional differences within a country. While "national" refers to the entire country as a single unit, "subnational" focuses on the parts within it.
These subnational entities can take many forms: states (as in the US), provinces (as in Canada), regions (as in France), counties, municipalities, or even smaller administrative divisions. For example, when discussing economic development, analysts might compare growth rates at the subnational level—looking at how different states within a country are performing relative to each other and the national average.
The term is particularly useful for understanding federal systems of government where power is divided between a central (national) authority and regional (subnational) authorities. It's also crucial when analyzing data that isn't uniform across an entire nation. For instance, public health officials might track disease outbreaks at the subnational level to identify specific hotspots and tailor interventions accordingly.
You might read about "subnational conflict," referring to disputes within a country that do not necessarily involve international actors, or "subnational autonomy," which describes the degree of self-governance granted to regions within a nation. Essentially, if an entity or activity operates at a tier below the central government, it falls under the umbrella of "subnational."
Examples
- 1
Government funding
In federal countries, many schools are funded by subnational governments rather than by the central government.
- Domainsubnational governments
state, regional, or provincial governments within a country
- 2
Economic data
The report compares unemployment rates at the subnational level, not just the national average.
- 3
Local authority
The peace agreement gave more power to subnational authorities in areas with strong local identities.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- provincial
- state-level
- municipal
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- subnational government
- subnational level
- subnational data
- subnational jurisdiction
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- subnationaladjective