nationality
/ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌna-shə-ˈna-lə-tē ˌnash-ˈna-/ (ame, mw)
nationality — noun
- nationalitysingular
- nationalitiesplural
1. how the law sees which country a person belongs to as a citizen; the official st
how the law sees which country a person belongs to as a citizen; the official status that gives you the right to a passport from that country and to live there permanently.
Christopher applied for French nationality after living in Lyon for eight years.
collocation: apply for nationality
Dual nationality lets you hold passports from two countries at the same time.
collocation: dual nationality
The entry form asks for your full name and nationality.
Tamar's nationality was listed as Ethiopian on her official documents.
An immigrant can change their nationality by becoming a citizen of the new country.
- citizenship
more specific to legal rights and duties of a citizen; 'nationality' is often broader and used in official forms
- legal residence
refers to permission to live in a country but may not include full citizenship rights such as voting
文法句型
of + nationality
adjective + nationality
have/acquire + nationality
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'ethnicity': nationality is a legal or official status tied to a country, whereas ethnicity describes a person's cultural, racial, or ancestral background and may cross national borders.
常見錯誤
2. any of the distinct peoples who share a language, history, or culture, especiall
any of the distinct peoples who share a language, history, or culture, especially when they make up part of a larger country or have their own political ambitions.
The Uyghurs are a nationality with their own language and cultural traditions.
typical subject: specific ethnic groups
Each nationality in the empire was allowed to teach its own history in schools.
The festival brought together nationalities from across Southeast Asia to share food and music.
Smaller nationalities often struggle to keep their native languages alive.
- ethnic group
more common in modern English; 'nationality' in this sense carries a stronger historical or political claim to self-rule
- people
broader and less formal; 'the Basque people' vs. 'the Basque nationality'
文法句型
a/an + nationality
adjective + nationality
用法筆記
This sense is close to 'ethnic group' and is most often used when discussing multi-ethnic states, historical empires, or regions where several cultural groups coexist within one country.