res nullius

noun

res nul·​li·​us
ˌrāsnəˈlēəs,
rāˈsnu̇lē-;
ˌrēznəˈlīəs,
rēzˈnəlēəs
1
: a thing belonging to no one whether because never appropriated (as a wild animal) or because abandoned by its owner but acquirable by appropriation
2
: property not subject to private ownership under Roman law

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, literally, thing of no one

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near res nullius

Cite this Entry

“Res nullius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/res%20nullius. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!