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
Other provisions of the letter included that Harvard ban all DEI policies, or at least those that consider gender, race, ability, age, socioeconomic status, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
—Charlotte Y. Levy, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2025
Due to the magnitude of the incident and the ongoing process of notifying the next of kin, no names, ages, hometowns, or nationalities have been released.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
All a player needs to change her nationality for tennis is a valid passport or other proof of nationality, citizenship, domicile or residence.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Since 2019, the Neighbors Not Enemies Act has been introduced each year in Congress to repeal the AEA in an effort to prevent its use against immigrants based on their nationality.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
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Charlotte Y. Levy, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2025
Due to the magnitude of the incident and the ongoing process of notifying the next of kin, no names, ages, hometowns, or nationalities have been released.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
All a player needs to change her nationality for tennis is a valid passport or other proof of nationality, citizenship, domicile or residence.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Since 2019, the Neighbors Not Enemies Act has been introduced each year in Congress to repeal the AEA in an effort to prevent its use against immigrants based on their nationality.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 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 9 May. 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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