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 its parents' citizenship

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.
The law, which was introduced in March by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government and came into force on Tuesday, now restricts the right to citizenship under jus sanguinis, or descendent bloodline, to people whose parents or grandparents were Italian. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 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 In contrast, most European countries have moved toward jus sanguinis, which bases citizenship on parentage rather than birthplace. Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Between 2014 and 2024, the number of Italians registered overseas rose by 40 percent, from 4.6 to 6.4 million, most through jus sanguinis claims. Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 2 May 2025 On March 28, the Italian government tightened regulations for claiming citizenship by jus sanguinis, or descendent blood line, effective immediately. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 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 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. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025 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

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jus sanguinis was in 1902

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jus sanguinis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jus%20sanguinis. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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

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