jus soli
noun
jus so·li
ˈyüs-ˈsō-ˌlē 
: a rule that the citizenship of a child is determined by the place of the child's birth : birthright citizenship compare jus sanguinis
Examples of jus soli in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To guard against the tyranny of the majority, for example, India defined citizenship entirely by the principle of jus soli—place of birth—rather than by ascriptive markers such as religion, wealth, or race.
—
Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Birthright citizenship, also called jus soli (the right of the soil), has helped integrate new generations of Americans into our society.
—Thomas Wenski, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025
In reality, several countries—especially in the Americas—grant unrestricted birthright citizenship (jus soli), including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
This is the policy most often followed, though some countries adhere to the alternative concept of jus soli, or right of soil, which confers citizenship on a child according to the location in which they are born.
—Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024
As Yukako Otori, a historian at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, says: There was a considerable gap between the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the jus soli principle and its implementation on the U.S. border.
—Hardeep Dhillon, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2023
The right has rejected the idea of jus soli (birth citizenship) or giving citizenship to the children of immigrants born in Italy.
—Alexander Stille, The New Republic, 4 Oct. 2022
The American legal principle of jus soli means that babies born on US soil automatically gain citizenship.
—Paul Vercammen, CNN, 16 Dec. 2019
Sociologist John Skrentny theorized that jus soli is strongest in the Western Hemisphere because of the region’s colonial history.
—Amanda Erickson, The Seattle Times, 30 Oct. 2018
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Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Birthright citizenship, also called jus soli (the right of the soil), has helped integrate new generations of Americans into our society.
—Thomas Wenski, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025
In reality, several countries—especially in the Americas—grant unrestricted birthright citizenship (jus soli), including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
This is the policy most often followed, though some countries adhere to the alternative concept of jus soli, or right of soil, which confers citizenship on a child according to the location in which they are born.
—Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024
As Yukako Otori, a historian at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, says: There was a considerable gap between the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the jus soli principle and its implementation on the U.S. border.
—Hardeep Dhillon, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2023
The right has rejected the idea of jus soli (birth citizenship) or giving citizenship to the children of immigrants born in Italy.
—Alexander Stille, The New Republic, 4 Oct. 2022
The American legal principle of jus soli means that babies born on US soil automatically gain citizenship.
—Paul Vercammen, CNN, 16 Dec. 2019
Sociologist John Skrentny theorized that jus soli is strongest in the Western Hemisphere because of the region’s colonial history.
—Amanda Erickson, The Seattle Times, 30 Oct. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Jus soli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jus%20soli. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
jus soli
noun
jus so·li
-ˈsō-ˌlī, -lē
: a rule of law that a child's citizenship is determined by his or her place of birth
Etymology
Latin, right of the soil
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