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

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