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
He was officially granted nationality in August 2022.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, is the legal principle that grants automatic citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
Since the country’s inception, the United States has had jus soli citizenship; anyone born in the country or its overseas territories is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025
While company ranks were filled with dancers of different nationalities, including American, the stars were mainly Russian — even if just by stage name.
—Meryl Cates, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nationality 
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Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025
Birthright citizenship, also known as jus soli, is the legal principle that grants automatic citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
Since the country’s inception, the United States has had jus soli citizenship; anyone born in the country or its overseas territories is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status.
—Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025
While company ranks were filled with dancers of different nationalities, including American, the stars were mainly Russian — even if just by stage name.
—Meryl Cates, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nationality
Articles Related to nationality
Dictionary Entries Near nationality
Cite this Entry
“Nationality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationality. Accessed 16 Feb. 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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