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

Barbadians, Belizeans, Bahamians, Ecuadorians, Chileans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians and several other nationalities were eligible for the diversity lottery visa that is now subject to the pause. —Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025

Sajid Akram held an Indian passport, while his son Naveed and a daughter were both born in Australia and are citizens of the country, the police said, confirming previous statements by Australian officials about the son's nationality. —Tucker Reals, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Bondi during the long Christmas vacation is like Rockefeller Center in New York City at the same time—thronged with people of all ages and nationalities, especially tourists, in a festive mood. —Belinda Luscombe, Time, 14 Dec. 2025

One of the awful strains of a frequently awful year was the apparent comfort that some of our nation’s most powerful men felt in openly value-ranking human beings, whether by dollar amount or nationality. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 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