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
W. B. Yeats2
: 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.
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
In Brazil, Cuban doctors in the defunct Mais Medicos program were paid less than a third of what was paid to doctors of other nationalities in the same program, according to documents obtained by the Brazilian press.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
Dismantling Iranian influence has been the bigger priority to date, with Shiite militia men reportedly being stripped of Syrian nationality that was granted in gratitude by Mr. Assad.
—Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Apr. 2025
The student's name and nationality have not been released.
—The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2025
Emin and Turner do have more in common than their nationality and profession.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
Dismantling Iranian influence has been the bigger priority to date, with Shiite militia men reportedly being stripped of Syrian nationality that was granted in gratitude by Mr. Assad.
—Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Apr. 2025
The student's name and nationality have not been released.
—The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2025
Emin and Turner do have more in common than their nationality and profession.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
Cite this Entry
“Nationality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationality. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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