ownership

noun

own·​er·​ship ˈō-nər-ˌship 

1

: the state, relation, or fact of being an owner

2

: a group or organization of owners

Examples of ownership in a Sentence

The company is under private ownership.

Recent Examples on the Web

But that doesn’t mean the benefits of ownership — financial and otherwise — won’t continue to appeal to many folks. —Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024

The grass berm beyond the right field wall at Sutter Health Park was spattered with a bright green armada on Saturday night as Oakland Athletics fans made the trip to the team’s future home to continue voicing their disapproval of the team’s ownership. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 28 Apr. 2024

Markovich notes the developments are trying to fill the gap created as more renters get priced out of ownership. —Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024

The transfer of ownership was settled in March and the total purchase price was $630,000, $678 per square foot. —Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2024

The government will likely argue that, under Chinese ownership, the app presents a clear and present national-security threat, and hope that the phrase acts as a cheat code to compel the courts without further evidence. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2024

After 12 years of ownership, fashion designer Keren Craig, the co-founder of the luxury womenswear brand Marchesa, and her husband, Piers North, are saying goodbye to their charming, boho-chic home in Upstate New York. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2024

For Trump to get the additional shares, which are on top of his current 57% ownership stake of 78 million shares, Trump Media needs to trade at or above $17.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2024

Economists disagree about why housing is so expensive, but many view shortages in the housing supply or corporate ownership of the housing stock as the greatest contributing factors. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

owner + -ship

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ownership

• cross-ownership
• home ownership

Legal Definition

ownership

noun

own·​er·​ship

: the state, relation, or fact of being an owner

also : the rights or interests of an owner

— absolute ownership

: ownership especially by a single person that is free of any encumbrances or limitations other than statutory law compare fee simple absolute at fee simple

— ostensible ownership \ ä-​ˈsten-​sə-​bəl-​ \

: ownership that is apparent rather than actual and that sometimes is recognized in cases of purchase of the property by an innocent third party

a dispute arising from the dealer's ostensible ownership and sale of the collateral

Note: A purchaser from a person with ostensible ownership of property may be able to defeat the claim to the property of the actual owner who created the ostensible ownership.

— ownership in indivision

in the civil law of Louisiana : ownership by two or more persons each having undivided shares in the property as a whole compare community property at property

— qualified ownership

: ownership that is limited by time, the interest of another party, or restrictions on the use of the property

had only qualified ownership of the fish and game on his property due to state restrictions