community property

American

noun

U.S. Law.

(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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

community property

In Washington state, community property with right of survivorship avoids probate and has a step-up in basis.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026

“However, community property can be changed to a tenancy in common via divorce proceedings to allow each co-owner the ability to transfer their shares to heirs.”

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 6, 2025

All these awards are community property no matter how people talk about it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2025

In community property states such as California, both halves of the house get this step-up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2025

“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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023