# nationality

/ˌnæʃəˈnæɫəti/ (US) · /nˌæʃənˈælɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nationality
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. legal citizenship

noun · CEFR A2

the official state of belonging to a country, which gives you a passport and legal rights there.

For teachers: the legal relationship between an individual and a state, typically acquired by birth or naturalisation.

- The application form asks for your name, date of birth, and nationality.
- The treaty ensures that children born within the territory are granted nationality regardless of their parents' legal status.

### 2. ethnic group

noun · CEFR B2

a group of people who share the same language, culture, and history.

For teachers: an ethnic group or community forming a part of one or more political nations.

- The city is home to people of many different nationalities and cultures.
- The empire was composed of various nationalities, each struggling to maintain its own linguistic and cultural traditions under central rule.

### 3. national character

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

the specific qualities or character that belong to a particular nation.

For teachers: the quality of being national; ethnic or cultural character or identity.

- The old book discussed the unique nationality of the island people.
- The author sought to define the essential nationality of the region through its folk songs and traditional architecture.

Usage: In modern English, 'national identity' is almost always used instead of this sense.

## Examples

- Please write your name and nationality on the form.
- The airline requires all passengers to provide their nationality and passport number before they can check in for international flights.
- While he had lived in London for decades and felt culturally British, his nationality remained French because he had never applied for a change in his legal status.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.