jus soli

American  

[juhs soh-lahy, -lee] / ˈdʒʌs ˈsoʊ laɪ, -li /

noun

Law.

1. the principle that the country of citizenship of a child is determined by their country of birth.

---

jus soli British  

/ ˈsəʊlaɪ /

noun

1. law the principle that a person's nationality at birth is determined by the territory within which he was born Compare jus sanguinis

---

Etymology

Origin of jus soli

First recorded in 1900–05; from Latin: “right of soil (land)”

Example Sentences

While the United States is among a smaller group of countries that recognize jus soli, it is not alone in doing so.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

She has a firm idea about the distinction between two very different theories of citizenship: jus soli, based on soil, and jus sanguinis, based on descent.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

John Skrentny, a sociology professor at the University of California, San Diego, believes that, though birthright citizenship or jus soli is common throughout the Americas, "each nation-state had its own unique road to it".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2025

The aforementioned Republic Act observes a couple of legal principles that many countries around the world have incorporated into their legislation: jus soli and jus sanguinis.

From Encyclopedia.com • Dec. 3, 2018

Just how broad the 14th Amendment’s statement of jus soli is can be seen from a leading case on citizenship, United States v.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016