Lotus principle

proper noun

The principle, in international law, that sovereign states may act in any way they wish as long as they do not contravene an explicit prohibition.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Lotus principle
  1. lawThe principle, in international law, that sovereign states may act in any way they wish as long as they do not contravene an explicit prohibition.

Origin

After the Lotus case, a criminal trial resulting from a 1926 collision between between French and Turkish ships, in which the applicable jurisdiction was disputed.

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Cite this entry
APA

Lotus principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lotus%20principle

MLA

“Lotus principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lotus%20principle. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Lotus principle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lotus%20principle.

Source: Lotus principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.