jus sanguinis

American

[juhs sang-gwuh-nis] / ˈdʒʌs ˈsæŋ gwə nɪs /

noun

Law.

the principle that the country of nationality of a child is that of the country of nationality of the parents.

jus sanguinis British

/ ˈsæŋɡwɪnɪs /

noun

law the principle that a person's nationality at birth is the same as that of his natural parents Compare jus soli

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jus sanguinis

1900–05; < Latin: right of blood

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Its opposing idea is jus sanguinis - right of blood which confers citizenship only on the children of citizens.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2024

The jus sanguinis principle applies to individuals born abroad to Filipino parents, which makes them natural-born Filipinos.

From Encyclopedia.com • Dec. 3, 2018

According to jus sanguinis, the law of the blood, citizenship at birth may also be determined by parentage, to whom one is born.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

We are in part a jus sanguinis nation as well in that children of American citizens who are born outside the U.S. can become citizens.

From Time • Jun. 23, 2011

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023