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

Explanation

A condominium is a building made up of privately owned apartments. Your grandparents might decide to move into a condominium in Florida. A condominium is split into units, which can be apartments, floors of houses, or even entire houses — each of these units is also a condominium. Rather than renting from a landlord, the way you do with an apartment, each occupant owns his or her individual condominium, and they all contribute money each month for maintenance and upkeep. The Modern Latin meaning of condominium is "joint rule or sovereignty," combining com-, "together," and dominum, "right of ownership."

Example Sentences

Kate Fenech, 33, has been looking to buy a two- or three-bedroom house or condominium with her husband since the fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

The bulk of unsold units are in the condominium market, which analysts say has basically collapsed in Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia, where house prices are steepest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Today, that only covers the cost of a condominium unit — at best — in many cities.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

About 250 other structures — duplexes, apartment buildings, condominium complexes — were also destroyed or damaged, those officials said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

Einarsson and Sverrisson began escorting Bobby to various condominium apartments, looking for a place for him to buy.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• apartment
• co-op
• condo
• townhouse