stateless

[steyt-lis]

adjective

1. lacking nationality.

2. Finance.,  of, relating to, or consisting of any currency deposited in banks outside the country of original issue.

stateless

/ ˈsteɪtlɪs /

adjective

1. without nationality

   stateless persons

2. without a state or states

3. without ceremonial dignity

Other Word Forms

• statelessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stateless¹

First recorded in 1600–10; state + -less

Example Sentences

Two sisters seeking to become Indian citizens are currently stateless after failing to procure a document that could prove that they have renounced their citizenship of Pakistan.

From BBC

Nguyen’s thrilling study of a stateless, nameless spy is unlike any other novel rooted in the Vietnam War.

From Los Angeles Times

But in 1981, parliament rowed back on these rights and many Tutsis, Banyamulenge and people from other minority groups were "derived of their nationality and left stateless", a UN report noted.

From BBC

Rights groups warned that this could leave many stateless, as they did not have Haitian papers either.

From BBC

He later said he would offer his presidential plane to pick up Colombian deportees to avoid them being left stranded and stateless.

From Los Angeles Times