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Synonyms

possessory

American  
[puh-zes-uh-ree] / pəˈzɛs ə ri /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a possessor or to possession.

    registration of possessory claims.

  2. arising from possession.

    a possessory interest.

  3. having possession.

    possessory landholdings.


possessory British  
/ pəˈzɛsərɪ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or having possession

  2. law arising out of, depending upon, or concerned with possession

    a possessory title

"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

  • possessoriness noun

Etymology

Origin of possessory

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin possessōrius, equivalent to Latin possed-, stem of possidēre to possess ( see possession) + -tōrius -tory 1, with dt > ss

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.

Despite concern over its fees, which Waterford disputes as being excessive, the annual possessory taxes are more than what the company makes each year to run the buildings, Drachman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2023

“It seems to recognize that a former president has a possessory interest in terms of documents.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2022

The part of these dating codes that I dislike is the possessory interest it gives our friends over third parties.

From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2018

TV does that—that powerful, possessory bond with the audience.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 21, 2015

GEORGIA, her avoidance of the Civil Rights Bill, 275; possessory titles of freedmen to lands in, 108.

From History of the Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States by Barnes, William Horatio