jus sanguinis

noun

jus san·​gui·​nis ˈyüs-ˈsäŋ-gwə-nəs How to pronounce jus sanguinis (audio)
: a rule that a child's citizenship is determined by the child's parents' citizenship compare birthright citizenship, jus soli

Examples of jus sanguinis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Europe, many countries — for example, Italy — do not have birthright citizenship but rather citizenship based on ancestry (jus sanguinis). — Thomas Wenski, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025 This is different from jus sanguinis citizenship, under which only people whose parents are nationals of a certain country are granted citizenship. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Jan. 2025 Previously, proof of citizenship could go back additional generations to great-grandparents and beyond under the legal provision known as jus sanguinis. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026 In the Americas, only Chile and Colombia do not grant birthright citizenship, relying instead on jus sanguinis or citizenship based on ancestry rather than place of birth. — Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 In Germany, for example, a strict adherence to the principle of jus sanguinis (the right of blood), which allocates citizenship based on bloodlines, left the country with a threat to its status as a liberal democracy in the 1980s. — Marcela Valdes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, right of blood

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jus sanguinis was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

juss
jus sanguinis
Jusserand
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Cite this Entry

“Jus sanguinis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jus%20sanguinis. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

jus sanguinis

noun
jus san·​gui·​nis -ˈsaŋ-gwi-nis, -ˈsäŋ-gwē-ˌnēs How to pronounce jus sanguinis (audio)
: a rule of law that a child's citizenship is determined by that of his or her parents
Etymology

Latin, right of blood

More from Merriam-Webster on jus sanguinis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jus sanguinis

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