poss.

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abbreviation

possession.

possessive.

possible.

possibly.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby poss.

positron, positron emission tomography, positronium, posole, posology, poss., posse, posse comitatus, posser, possess, possessed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poss. in a sentence

Deys a fass pinto hoss hitched to a poss in de yard—a hoss dat de owner don't seem to understand nohow.
Gabriel Conroy|Bert Harte
By this time they had reached the homestead, and Poss went off with the children to the stables.
An Outback Marriage|Andrew Barton Paterson
Quelquefois elles ne paroissent que des monceaux poss et l; comme dans une grand partie du Pimont.
Theory of the Earth, Volume 2 (of 4)|James Hutton
I can't poss'bly tell ye that, Mr. Pow's, havin' affairs of my own most urrgent.
Sandra Belloni, Complete|George Meredith

She buried her face in her sleeve against the white wall, and Harriet, bewildered, seized the poss-stick again.
Back o' the Moon|Oliver Onions

British Dictionary definitions for poss. (1 of 2)

poss

/ (pɒs) /

verb

(tr) to wash (clothes) by agitating them with a long rod, pole, etc

Word Origin for poss

of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for poss. (2 of 2)

poss.

abbreviation for

possession

possessive

possible

possibly

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