Reading Theme:
Nationality: Meaning, Examples, and Common Uses (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：Citizenship status (nationality)
nationality
/ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/
n.
The legal status of belonging to a particular country, usually shown on your passport.
Citizenship status
➕
/ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp ˈsteɪtəs/
n.
The legal relationship between an individual and a state, typically indicated by a passport or official document.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'natio' (birth, nation) + suffix '-ality' (state/quality).
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'nation' + 'ality' = your official connection to a nation. Imagine your passport stating your nation-ality.
📖 Example
When filling out the airport form, she wrote "Chinese" in the box for nationality.
While completing the airport form, she entered 'Chinese' under the nationality section.
🔗 Collocations
acquire nationality – to obtain legal nationality of a country
dual nationality – holding citizenship of two countries simultaneously
apply for nationality – to submit a formal request to become a citizen
🔄 Synonyms
citizenship (n.) – The status of being a citizen of a particular country.
citizenry (n.) – The group of people who are citizens of a particular country.
naturalization (n.) – The process by which a foreigner becomes a citizen of a country.
🚫 Antonyms
statelessness (n.) – The condition of not having a nationality or citizenship.
🌱 Derivatives
nationalize (v.) – to transfer control of an industry or company to the state
nationalistic (adj.) – showing strong support for one's own nation, often excessively
nationalism (n.) – devotion and loyalty to one's own nation
📖 Cultural Story
The word originally referred to a nation or ethnic group. In the 17th century, it gained the legal sense of citizenship. The Latin root 'natio' also gives us 'nation' and 'native'.
Meaning 2：Ethnic cultural group (nationality)
nationality
/ˌnæʃəˈnæləti/
n.
A large group of people who share the same culture, language, and history, and feel they belong together.
Ethnic cultural group
➕
/ˈeθnɪk ˈkʌltʃərəl ɡruːp/
n.
A community of people who share a common culture, language, history, and often a sense of identity, distinct from political citizenship.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
China is a country with 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, but they all share the Chinese nationality.
Although China recognizes 56 ethnic minorities, they all share a single Chinese nationality.
🔗 Collocations
ethnic nationality – nationality based on shared cultural or ethnic heritage
minority nationality – an ethnic group that is a minority within a country
nationality group – a population segment defined by common ethnic origin
🔄 Synonyms
ethnicity (n.) – The fact or state of belonging to a social group with a common cultural or national tradition.
culture group (n.) – A community of people who share distinct cultural practices.
national community (n.) – A group of people regarded as a nation.
🚫 Antonyms
globalism (n.) – An outlook that emphasizes the global community over national or ethnic groups.
🌱 Derivatives
national (adj.) – relating to a nation
nationalism (n.) – patriotic feeling for one's nation
nationalist (n.) – a person who supports nationalism
Wordbook
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