statelessness

IPA/ˈsteɪtləsnəs/
IPA/ˈsteɪtləsnəs/

statelessness — noun

1. the legal position of having no nationality at all — no state recognises the per

1.名詞C1
釋義

the legal position of having no nationality at all — no state recognises the person as a citizen, so they are denied a passport and the basic protections that come with belonging to a country

例句

Karim's statelessness meant he could not get a passport from any government.

collocation: statelessness meant [consequence]

The UN report documented the statelessness of more than three million Rohingya people.

同義詞
  • displacement

    broader term for anyone forced from their home; displaced people may still hold citizenship of their country

  • exile

    being barred from one's own country, but the exiled person typically retains that nationality

反義詞
  • citizenship

    the legal status of belonging to a particular country with accompanying rights

  • nationality

    the formal legal bond between a person and a sovereign state

用法筆記

Primarily a legal and human-rights term. Not the same as being a refugee — a refugee may still hold a nationality, while a stateless person has none, regardless of whether they have crossed a border.

常見錯誤

❌He fled the war and became stateless.
✅He fled the war and became a refugee.
💡Statelessness is a legal status determined by nationality laws, not a direct result of fleeing conflict. A refugee may still hold citizenship.
❌Her statelessness passport expired.
✅Her travel document for stateless persons expired.
💡Stateless people do not hold national passports; some receive special travel documents issued under international agreements.