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
Italian American Social Club of Central Florida: All nationalities are welcome.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
While details such as visa fees and eligible nationalities have not yet been finalized, GCC officials say these elements will be announced later this year, ahead of the launch of the Grand Tours Visa.
—AFAR Media, 28 July 2025
Under Iranian nationality law, they are denied birth certificates unless the father is an Iranian citizen.
—Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
The State Department and other agencies issued in 2022 a warning about schemes, where North Korean IT workers, posing as from other nationalities, offered to work remotely and applied for jobs in electronic gaming, IT support, and artificial intelligence, among other sectors.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
While details such as visa fees and eligible nationalities have not yet been finalized, GCC officials say these elements will be announced later this year, ahead of the launch of the Grand Tours Visa.
—AFAR Media, 28 July 2025
Under Iranian nationality law, they are denied birth certificates unless the father is an Iranian citizen.
—Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
The State Department and other agencies issued in 2022 a warning about schemes, where North Korean IT workers, posing as from other nationalities, offered to work remotely and applied for jobs in electronic gaming, IT support, and artificial intelligence, among other sectors.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 July 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 21 Aug. 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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