1) Membership of a person in a nation state (when used in a legal sense). A National of a country generally possesses the right of abode in the country whose nationality he/she holds. Nationality is distinguished from citizenship, as a citizen has the right to participate in the political life of the state of which he/she is a citizen, such as by voting or standing for election. Although nationals need not have these rights, normally they do. 2) Membership in a group of people with a shared history and a shared sense of identity and political destiny (when used in a sociopolitical sense).