nationality

American  

[nash-uh-nal-i-tee] / ˌnæʃ əˈnæl ɪ ti /

noun

• nationalities
  plural

1. the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization.

   the nationality of an immigrant.

2. the relationship of property, holdings, etc., to a particular nation, or to one or more of its members.

   the nationality of a ship.

3. nationalism.

4. existence as a distinct nation; national independence.

   a small colony that has just achieved nationality.

5. a nation or people.

   the nationalities of the Americas.

6. a national quality or character.

   Nationalities tend to submerge and disappear in a metropolis.

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nationality British  

/ ˌnæʃəˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or fact of being a citizen of a particular nation

2. a body of people sharing common descent, history, language, etc; a nation

3. a national group

   30 different nationalities are found in this city

4. national character or quality

5. the state or fact of being a nation; national status

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nationalities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of nationality

First recorded in 1685–95; national + -ity

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Explanation

Your nationality is the country you come from: American, Canadian, and Russian are all nationalities. Everyone has a gender, race, sexual orientation...and a nationality. A person's nationality is where they are a legal citizen, usually in the country where they were born. People from Mexico have Mexican nationality, and people from Australia have Australian nationality. People of the same nationality usually share traditions and customs, and they might look a little alike, too. Nationality is one of many qualities that bring people together.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nationality nationalities

Pernik has said the allegations were “wholly out of character” and that his client’s flight to Saudi Arabia was prebooked, and urged people not make assumption’s about Alfozan due to his Saudi nationality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Russians make up the second-largest nationality among tourists in the Maldives, behind Chinese nationals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Audience entanglement plagued creators from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender or nationality.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

It is now an offence for players or officials to insult someone because of their race, religion, ethnicity, colour, nationality or background.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

It is unclear if the motive was the Germans’ nationality or their attempt to organize at the mine.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

All were men of different nationalities, she added.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Pilots who should have been excluded by their nationalities have been flying to Israel more frequently, a sign enforcement had grown sloppy, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

As a result, clubs have expanded their scouting pool and been able to attract players from a wider variety of nationalities - with transfer fees exploding since the turn of the decade.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The missing figure released Thursday by China from its side of the border included 260 foreigners, but no breakdown on nationalities was provided.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Roaming the pathways of the garden in a daze, Kendra saw that the fairy women appeared to represent all nationalities.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

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Related Words

• citizenship
• community
• ethnic group
• origin
• society

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