nationality
6 synonyms for nationality, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The legal status of belonging to a particular nation, usually shown on a passport.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The legal status of belonging to a particular nation, usually shown on a passport.
“She holds dual nationality, British and Canadian.”
How to use nationality
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dual nationality
of Irish nationality
nationality and citizenship
Etymology
From "national" plus "-ity," a suffix that turns an adjective into an abstract noun — likely influenced by the French nationalité.
Full origin of nationality →Frequently asked questions
What does “nationality” mean?
The word “nationality” means the legal status of belonging to a particular nation, usually shown on a passport. In plain terms, which country you're legally a citizen of, or the ethnic/cultural group you belong to.
How do you pronounce “nationality”?
“Nationality” is pronounced nash-uh-NAL-ih-tee (/ˌnæʃ.əˈnæl.ɪ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “nationality” in a sentence?
Here is “nationality” used in a sentence: “She holds dual nationality, British and Canadian.”
What part of speech is “nationality”?
“Nationality” is a noun.
Where does the word “nationality” come from?
The word “nationality” comes from French. From "national" plus "-ity," a suffix that turns an adjective into an abstract noun — likely influenced by the French nationalité.
Is “nationality” a common word?
“Nationality” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “nationality” have?
“Nationality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the legal status of belonging to a particular nation, usually shown on a passport.
What is the difference between nationality and citizenship?
Nationality refers to the legal status of belonging to a particular nation, usually shown on a passport, and is closely related to citizenship in most everyday uses. In some legal systems the two terms are treated as distinct, but in common usage they are largely interchangeable.
What is the difference between nationality and ethnicity?
Nationality is the legal status of belonging to a nation, typically documented by a passport, while ethnicity refers to a group of people who share a common origin, culture, or ethnic identity. A person can hold one nationality while identifying with a different ethnic background.
Can a person have more than one nationality?
Many countries allow dual or multiple nationality, meaning a person can hold legal status in more than one nation at the same time, though rules vary by country.
