terra nullius

Meaning

A Latin term meaning 'nobody's land,' used in international law to describe territory that has never been subject to the sovereignty of any state, or over which any prior sovereign has expressly or implicitly relinquished title.

Examples

• The legal concept of terra nullius was used to justify European colonization in many parts of the world.
• Critics argue that the doctrine of terra nullius ignored the presence and rights of indigenous populations.