nationality

noun

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

ˌnash-ˈna-

plural nationalities

1

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

Unlike the United States and some European countries, Japan grants nationality based on ancestry, not place of birth.

—Mari Yamaguchi

b

: membership in a particular nation

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

2

a

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

The country is home to five nationalities.

b

: 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.

3

dated : national character

… the intricate pleats and folds of the American nationality …

—Paul Berman

4

dated : loyalty and devotion to a nation

… a rekindled spirit of nationality, pride, and yearning for unity …

—Michael Kilian

5

dated : political independence or existence as a separate nation

Recognition of Ireland's nationality was felt to be deeply desired …

—Alan O'Day

Synonyms of nationality

• ethnicity
• nation

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 shards represent Blue Origin's commitment to breaking down the barriers to accessing space, including cost, nationality, and ability. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Second, in the absence of clear standards, transparency, and oversight, social media review processes could inadvertently introduce bias related to language, nationality, or political affiliation, and such effects may be difficult to evaluate or contest. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Today Chalhoub Group operates more than 950 retail stores across 14 countries, 65-plus e-commerce platforms, partnerships with more than 400 international luxury brands and a workforce of 16,000 employees from 119 nationalities. —Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 8 Dec. 2025

Fourteen of the victims are believed to have been staff, and the nationalities of the tourists are not yet confirmed, police told the English-language Indian news channel. —Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for nationality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criminality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• hospitality

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