alienage

American  

[eyl-yuh-nij, ey-lee-uh-] / ˈeɪl yə nɪdʒ, ˈeɪ li ə- /

noun

Law.

1. the state of being an alien.

2. the legal status of an alien.

   birthright citizenship for all children born inside the territory, without regard for the alienage of their parents.

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Etymology

Origin of alienage

First recorded in 1800–10; alien + -age

Example Sentences

The court said then “the fundamental rule of citizenship by birth, notwithstanding the alienage of parents” had been established by law.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

It said the rejection was not unlawful because it was “not synonymous” with alienage discrimination.

From New York Times • Aug. 20, 2020

Instead, the court has provided a list of characteristics—race and sex, but also national origin, alienage, and illegitimacy—that it considers unchangeable, leaving legal scholars to connect the dots in most other instances.

From Slate • May 16, 2019

A: An ERA would likely put gender in the same legal class as race, national origin, religion and alienage.

From Washington Times • May 7, 2017

But the one privilege, the one advantage of alienage, you deny him.

From Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 4 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron