nationality

noun

na·​tion·​al·​i·​ty ˌna-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

ˌnash-ˈna-

plural nationalities

1

: national character

the nationality of Ireland is in her songs and in her stories, and in her chronicles and in her tradition

—W. B. Yeats

2

: loyalty and devotion to a nation

3

a

: national status

specifically : a legal relationship involving allegiance on the part of an individual and usually protection on the part of the state

nationality bestowed by birth

b

: membership in a particular nation

Vietnamese nationality

4

: political independence or existence as a separate nation

5

a

: a people having a common origin, tradition, and language and capable of forming or actually constituting a nation-state

The diverse nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire desired independence.

b

: an ethnic group constituting one element of a larger unit (such as a nation)

The country is home to five nationalities.

Synonyms

• ethnicity
• nation
• race

Examples of nationality in a Sentence

The country is home to five nationalities and seven languages.

people of all races and nationalities

She's American, but her parents are of Japanese nationality.

He has held French nationality for the past 20 years.

The university has students of over 50 nationalities.

Recent Examples on the Web

The attack on civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or religion, is an atrocity that no ideology or cause can justify. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025

The passport card is wallet-size (much like a driver’s license) and includes information about its owner, including full name, nationality, place of birth, gender, dates of issue and expiration, a unique ID number, and photo. —Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 3 Jan. 2025

Another federal program, called 287(g), grants sheriff deputies permission to act as immigration agents themselves, questioning arrestees about their nationality and transferring them to ICE’s custody. —Jessica Pishko, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025

Many in the art world oppose banning works on the basis of their nationality, believing that culture has the power to unite and should not be contaminated by politics. —Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nationality

noun

na·​tion·​al·​i·​ty ˌnash-(ə-)ˈnal-ət-ē 

plural nationalities

1

: the fact or state of belonging to a nation

a person of French nationality

2

: political independence as a nation

3

: a people having a common beginning, tradition, or language