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Synonyms

ownership

American  
[oh-ner-ship] / ˈoʊ nərˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the state or fact of being an owner.

  2. legal right of possession; proprietorship.


ownership British  
/ ˈəʊnəʃɪp /

noun

  1. the state or fact of being an owner

  2. legal right of possession; proprietorship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • interownership noun
  • self-ownership noun

Etymology

Origin of ownership

First recorded in 1575–85; owner + -ship

Explanation

Ownership is the state of owning something. Anything that people own or possess gives them the quality of ownership. Wars are often fought over the ownership of land. When you buy a book, you own it. Add the suffix ship to owner, and now you have ownership of that lovely book. If you buy a house, you have ownership of it. Politicians like to talk about the “American dream of home ownership.” If you buy a lottery ticket, you have ownership of that, too. If you win big, you’ll have ownership of lots of cash and then you, too can realize that American dream.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing ownership

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.

McDonald, a minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said there was "a strong future" for the UK steel industry, but did not give a timetable for resolving British Steel's ownership.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Matt Rascon, a spokesperson for Colony Ridge, said the company “found success offering a path to land ownership through flexible financing options with no credit checks.”

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

Unlike a debt-focused fund, where the upside is capped, a private-equity manager can manufacture home-run performance on paper by marking up ownership stakes in closely held companies or other private-equity funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Tensions over the rising rights fees are growing as the NFL has the right to open up the deal with Paramount, because the company underwent an ownership change last year when acquired by Skydance Media.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Thus it was that one man wanted ownership of land and at the same time wanted servitude because someone had to work it.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck