ownership

[oh-ner-ship]

noun

1. the state or fact of being an owner.

2. legal right of possession; proprietorship.

ownership

/ ˈəʊnəʃɪp /

noun

1. the state or fact of being an owner

2. legal right of possession; proprietorship

Other Word Forms

• interownership noun
• self-ownership noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ownership¹

First recorded in 1575–85; owner + -ship

Example Sentences

They were skeptical of it because they considered the people to be unruly by nature and not fit to govern themselves, which is why the Founding Fathers tied voting rights to property ownership in 1776.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since the fire, residents have heard virtually nothing from ownership.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At a club mired in ownership and financial troubles, 12th was an admirable performance.

Read more on BBC

Greater Anglia has become the latest rail operator to enter into public ownership as part of the government's renationalisation of the network.

Read more on BBC

“The ability to break into home ownership is almost impossible in the communities that we serve.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• control 
• holding 
• partnership 
• property 
• purchase 
• takeover