fee simple

American  

noun

1. fee4a

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fee simple British  

noun

1. property law an absolute interest in land over which the holder has complete freedom of disposition during his life Compare fee tail

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Etymology

Origin of fee simple

1425–75; late Middle English < Anglo-French

Example Sentences

“Rather, the Court directed the Province of B.C. to negotiate with the Cowichan Nation to reconcile their Aboriginal title with the existing fee simple interests.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Deeb notes that your father and his wife cannot prevent the sale of the home if you have a fee simple title, which gives you full ownership of the land and property.

From Slate • Nov. 16, 2023

“The big thing is they can buy fee simple land,” said Choi, referring to private ownership.

From BusinessWeek • Jun. 13, 2011

When Mrs. Gilmer died last December at 90, Muriel Agnelli took over title to the column in fee simple.

From Time Magazine Archive

I never supposed it possible to acquire by prescription 'a fee simple in an injustice.'

From Old-Fashioned Ethics and Common-Sense Metaphysics With Some of Their Applications by Thornton, William Thomas