stateless

American  

[steyt-lis] / ˈsteɪt lɪs /

adjective

1. lacking nationality.

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

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stateless British  

/ ˈsteɪtlɪs /

adjective

1. without nationality

   stateless persons

2. without a state or states

3. without ceremonial dignity

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Other Word Forms

• statelessness noun

Etymology

Origin of stateless

First recorded in 1600–10; state + -less

Example Sentences

And so he is essentially stateless, surviving on savings he accumulated as a truck driver in California.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Under customary international law and the Law of the Sea Treaty, which our allies have ratified, stateless vessels may be boarded without violating a flag state’s rights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

When its forces seized the tanker in the Atlantic on January 7, the White House said the vessel was "deemed stateless after flying a false flag".

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

But Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast the ship was designated a stateless vessel under international law.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

One of the ways he thought the deportation might be prevented, or at least delayed, was for him to become stateless by legally renouncing his citizenship.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady