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
The travel ban may lead to other sports teams, players, or athletes being denied visas for the U.S., depending on their nationality.
—Dan Gooding
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Italian American Social Club of Central Florida: All nationalities are welcome.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
More Indians come to the U.S. on student visas than any other nationality—with 422,335 foreign students from India in the U.S. last year, vs. 329,541 foreign students from China.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 July 2025
Characterizing much of his upbringing was the melting pot within the Fijian nationality with both Indo-Fijians and natives.
—Olivia Cyrus
july 20, Sacbee.com, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
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Dan Gooding
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Italian American Social Club of Central Florida: All nationalities are welcome.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
More Indians come to the U.S. on student visas than any other nationality—with 422,335 foreign students from India in the U.S. last year, vs. 329,541 foreign students from China.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 July 2025
Characterizing much of his upbringing was the melting pot within the Fijian nationality with both Indo-Fijians and natives.
—Olivia Cyrus
july 20, Sacbee.com, 20 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 1 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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