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
Laws eventually backed the violence Chinese immigrants faced with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 − the first federal law to regulate immigration for a specific nationality.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The Gimballs are left to wonder whether exposing Whelan for blackmail is a good option, given that his information about Dennis’ true nationality would kill his populist mayoral campaign.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
This last document is issued to Mexican citizens who return to the country without sufficient documentation proving their nationality.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Applicants can also request to be interviewed in their country of nationality.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nationality
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The Gimballs are left to wonder whether exposing Whelan for blackmail is a good option, given that his information about Dennis’ true nationality would kill his populist mayoral campaign.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
This last document is issued to Mexican citizens who return to the country without sufficient documentation proving their nationality.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Applicants can also request to be interviewed in their country of nationality.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share