condominium

American  

[kon-duh-min-ee-uhm] / ˌkɒn dəˈmɪn i əm /

noun

1. an apartment house, office building, or other multiple-unit complex, the units of which are individually owned, each owner receiving a recordable deed to the individual unit purchased, including the right to sell, mortgage, etc., that unit and sharing in joint ownership of any common grounds, passageways, etc.

2. a unit in such a building.

3. International Law.

   1. joint sovereignty over a territory by several states.

   2. the territory itself.

4. joint or concurrent dominion.

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condominium British  

/ ˌkɒndəˈmɪnɪəm /

noun

1. joint rule or sovereignty

2. a country ruled by two or more foreign powers

3. Sometimes shortened to: condo.  Compare cooperative

   1. an apartment building in which each apartment is individually wholly owned and the common areas are jointly owned

   2. the title under which an apartment in such a building is owned

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Other Word Forms

• mini-condominium noun

Etymology

Origin of condominium

1705–15; < New Latin. See con-, dominium

Example Sentences

Stern designed museums; skyscraper condominiums—most famously 15 Central Park West in New York; a presidential library, and a good deal more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jeffrey Hamilton came to live in an empty condominium, as many do, after a painful breakup.

From Los Angeles Times

He owned a condominium complex for a while before selling at a loss when he had trouble collecting rents.

From Los Angeles Times

The condominium market in Canada, particularly in the Toronto and Vancouver areas, is feeling the stress and has deteriorated further since the spring, the regulator said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“With his wife, Dr. Alice Huang, he shares a luxury duplex condominium on Union Wharf, which has a commanding view of Boston Harbor,” it said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apartment
• co-op
• condo
• townhouse