community property

American  

noun

U.S. Law.

1. (in some states) property acquired by either spouse, or both together, that is considered by law to be jointly owned and equally shared.

---

Etymology

Origin of community property

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Until now, filing a joint petition was permitted only in limited circumstances, including when the couple had been married for fewer than five years and where their community property assets were worth less than $25,000.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

Not all real estate purchased during marriage qualifies unambiguously as community property.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

There are nine community property states in the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 6, 2025

For couples without prenups and divorcing in one of the nine community property states, assets accrued during the marriage may be split 50/50.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2024

“She’ll claim it’s community property, divvy it out to her minions, and there goes our emergency supply.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman