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
Swimmers competing as neutrals – mainly those with Russian nationality – were tested 8.2 times on average.
—CNN Money, 14 July 2025
The latest employment statistics show the Trump administration’s policies, which include blocking refugee admissions and ending legal status for many nationalities, are harming the labor supply and the economy.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Hernandez is among a dozen Honduran, Nicaraguan and Nepali TPS holders who filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday regarding its decision to end the protections for their nationalities.
—Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
The news is stirring concern among the over 1.12 million international students who fear they'll be targeted based on their nationality.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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CNN Money, 14 July 2025
The latest employment statistics show the Trump administration’s policies, which include blocking refugee admissions and ending legal status for many nationalities, are harming the labor supply and the economy.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Hernandez is among a dozen Honduran, Nicaraguan and Nepali TPS holders who filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday regarding its decision to end the protections for their nationalities.
—Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
The news is stirring concern among the over 1.12 million international students who fear they'll be targeted based on their nationality.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 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 21 Jul. 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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