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

Italian American Social Club of Central Florida: All nationalities are welcome. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024

The artist was born in Iran, is French Swedish by nationality, and spends most of his time in Morocco. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

The nationalities of the missing were not immediately released, but the Red Sea Governor Major Gen. Amr Hanafi said military and navel crews continued to search for them. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024

Forty-nine were Dutch and 10 were Israeli, and the nationalities of three are unknown, the triangle’s report said, adding that 45 were fined and four remained in jail. —Henry Austin, NBC News, 13 Nov. 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