nationality

[ nash-uh-nal-i-tee ]

See synonyms for nationality on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural na·tion·al·i·ties for 1, 2, 5, 6.

the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization: the nationality of an immigrant.
the relationship of property, holdings, etc., to a particular nation, or to one or more of its members: the nationality of a ship.

nationalism.
existence as a distinct nation; national independence: a small colony that has just achieved nationality.
a nation or people: the nationalities of the Americas.
a national quality or character: Nationalities tend to submerge and disappear in a metropolis.

Origin of nationality

First recorded in 1685–95; national + -ity

Words Nearby nationality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nationality in a sentence

Hossein Darakhshan, born in Tehran on January 7, 1975, has dual Canadian-Iranian nationality.
Iran’s Blogfather Walks Free After Six Years in Jail | IranWire | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She did, however, choose to surmise that “The nationality of the shooter, it sounds Hispanic, Latino,” based on his name.
The Ugliest, Creepiest Responses to the Fort Hood Shooting | Caitlin Dickson | April 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Is falafel Israeli and can fried chickpeas have a nationality?
Watching Anthony Bourdain in Palestine | Maysoon Zayid | September 19, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
VVD, the biggest party in Dutch government, is even in favor of stripping them of Dutch nationality.
Seduced by War, Europeans Join the Fight in Syria | Nadette De Visser | June 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Israel is guilty of blurring the line between nationality and faith, too.
No, Most Palestinians Aren't Anti-Semites | Maysoon Zayid | May 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

It was a fatal error, for though the Spanish people might despise their King, they were intensely proud of their nationality.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Foreign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
An American woman therefore who marries an alien takes the nationality of her husband.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
But if he was unconcerned as to family descent, he was far from indifferent as to nationality.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
They have no nationality, and are officially described as “Filipinos under the protection of the United States.”
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for nationality

nationality

/ (ˌnæʃəˈnælɪtɪ) /

nounplural -ties

the state or fact of being a citizen of a particular nation
a body of people sharing common descent, history, language, etc; a nation

a national group: 30 different nationalities are found in this city
national character or quality
the state or fact of being a nation; national status

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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