first international: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal (historical/political), Sports journalism
Quick answer
What does “first international” mean?
The initial occasion where a group of nations or a nation's representatives convene to compete or collaborate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The initial occasion where a group of nations or a nation's representatives convene to compete or collaborate; specifically, a reference to the first international (socialist) workingmen's association founded in 1864.
Adjectival: Pertaining to the initial competitive match between two national teams in a sport (e.g., a player's debut cap). Historical: Referring to the first International Workingmen's Association, a major 19th-century socialist organization. Noun: The event or organization itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'won his first international cap' is common. American English prefers 'made his international debut' or 'played in his first international match.' The historical 'First International' is capitalized in both.
Connotations
In BrE sports context, 'first international' has strong connotations with the tradition of awarding caps. In AmE, it's more a neutral descriptor of debut.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK/Irish media due to prominence of international rugby, football, and cricket. In US, used but less frequent than 'national team debut'.
Grammar
How to Use “first international” in a Sentence
[Subject] made/played his/her first international [appearance] [for + country] [in/against + opponent/date].The [historical] First International was founded [in + year] [by + founder].[Player] earned his first international cap [by + verb+ing].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first international” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The young forward is in line for a first international call-up.
- It was her first international tournament as captain.
American English
- She received her first international start against Canada.
- This marks our first international collaboration on the project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in 'first international conference' or 'first international shipment.'
Academic
Common in historical/political science texts referring to the First International (1864-1876).
Everyday
Primarily in sports news: 'She scored a hat-trick on her first international.'
Technical
Used in sports statistics and historical timelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first international”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first international”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first international”
- Using 'The First International' uncapitalized when referring to the historical body.
- Saying 'first international game' when meaning 'first World Cup game' (which is more specific).
- Using as a verb: 'He first internationaled in 2020' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a noun phrase or a compound adjective, typically not hyphenated unless used attributively before a noun (e.g., 'first-international appearance'), though practices vary.
Yes, but it is usually capitalized ('the First International') in that context. In lower case, 'first international' most commonly refers to a sports debut.
In sports like rugby and football, 'first cap' explicitly references the tradition of awarding a physical cap for a debut. 'First international' is a broader term for the debut match itself, used in all sports.
Use it directly before a noun: 'first international goal,' 'first international conference,' 'first international flight.' It describes the first instance of something on an international scale.
The initial occasion where a group of nations or a nation's representatives convene to compete or collaborate.
First international is usually formal (historical/political), sports journalism in register.
First international: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈnæʃ.ən.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Earn your first cap”
- “Win your spurs at international level”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FIRST INTERNATIONAL: For Initial Representative Sporting Trial, or Historic International Revolutionary Socialist Team.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GATEWAY (to an international career), A BAPTISM (of fire at the highest level), A FOUNDING STONE (for the historical organization).
Practice
Quiz
In a historical context, 'the First International' specifically refers to: