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nationalitynoun allegiance, birth, body politic, citizenry, commonwealth, country, fatherland, habitancy, homeland, inhabitancy, inhabitation, nation, national group, national status, native land, nativity, origin, polity, populace, society, sovereign state, statehood, stock
Associated concepts: immigration and naturalization
nationalitythe legal relationship between a person and a state. Since the British Nationality Act 1981, it is no longer possible to acquire British citizenship by reason only of being born in the UK. Since 1 January 1983, a child will become a British citizen if one of its parents is a British citizen or is settled in the UK.
NATIONALITY. The state of a person in relation to the nation in which he was
2. A man retains his nationality of origin during his minority, but, as in the case of his domicil of origin, he may change his nationality upon attaining full age; he cannot, however, renounce his allegiance without permission of the government. See Citizen; Domicil; Expatriation; Naturalization; Foelix, Du Dr. Intern. prive, n. 26; 8 Cranch, 263; 8 Cranch, 253; Chit. Law of Nat. 31 2 Gall. 485; 1 Gall. 545.