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
If America is the greatest country on earth, Canadians ask online, why are Americans concealing their nationality and hiding behind another flag?
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Cultural events, festivals, research grants, and academic conferences have increasingly excluded Israelis simply because of their nationality.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Just as the Zionists did, the Bund considered Jews to be a nationality of their own.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Productions must also pass a test which allocates points to factors such as the language of the broadcast, the nationality of key members of the crew and the author of the subject matter.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
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Vivian Song, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Cultural events, festivals, research grants, and academic conferences have increasingly excluded Israelis simply because of their nationality.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Just as the Zionists did, the Bund considered Jews to be a nationality of their own.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Productions must also pass a test which allocates points to factors such as the language of the broadcast, the nationality of key members of the crew and the author of the subject matter.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 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 Sep. 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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