condominium

noun

con·​do·​min·​i·​um ˌkän-də-ˈmi-nē-əm 

plural condominiums also condominia ˌkän-də-ˈmi-nē-ə 

1

a

: individual ownership of a unit in a multiunit structure (such as an apartment building) or on land owned in common (such as a town house complex)

also : a unit so owned

b

: a building containing condominiums

2

a

: joint dominion

especially : joint sovereignty by two or more nations

b

: a government operating under joint rule

3

: a politically dependent territory under condominium

Examples of condominium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By that evening, firefighters pivoted to a defensive position to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings in the compound, which has several multi-unit condominium complexes arranged along a waterfront. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

However, high-density residential developments, including many apartment complexes and condominiums, would see their fee increase from $5,074 to $6,808, up $1,734, or about 34%. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026

They’re typically used for short distances, often for people living in closed community settings such as retirement homes or condominium complexes. — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Luxury condominiums routinely sell for tens of millions of dollars. — Luisa Yanez august 3, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin com- + dominium domain

First Known Use

circa 1715, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for condominium

• actinium
• dominium
• gadolinium
• pyridinium
• minium

Kids Definition

condominium

noun

con·​do·​min·​i·​um ˌkän-də-ˈmin-ē-əm 

: an individually owned unit in a structure (as an apartment building) with many units

Etymology

derived from Latin condominium "joint rule or ownership," from earlier con-, com- "together" and dominium "ownership, rule," from dominus "master, owner" — related to domain, dominate

Legal Definition

condominium

noun

con·​do·​min·​i·​um ˌkän-də-ˈmi-nē-əm 

plural condominiums

1

: ownership of real property that is characterized by separate ownership of portions of the property (as units in an apartment building) and undivided or joint ownership of the remainder (as the common areas of an apartment building)

the conversion of real property to the condominium form of ownership

—Troy Ltd. v. Renna, 727 F.2d 287 (1984)

compare cooperative

2

: real property (as an apartment or building) having condominium ownership

a two-bedroom condominium

Etymology

New Latin, joint dominion, from Latin com- with, together + dominium rule, ownership