condominium

noun

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

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

1

a

: joint dominion

especially : joint sovereignty by two or more nations

b

: a government operating under joint rule

2

: a politically dependent territory under condominium

3

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

Examples of condominium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Private outdoor spaces, including balconies or fenced backyards—an uncommon feature in condominium living. —Ken & Darci Hendrix, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2025

South Florida, home to many of the state's aging condominiums, has also been grappling with the effects of new building safety legislation enacted after the deadly collapse of Surfside's Champlain Tower South in 2021. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

Across most of the world, people have been able to live near jobs and amenities by owning instead of renting a unit in a multifamily building — otherwise known as condominiums. —Muhammad Alameldin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025

The soccer superstar has gone into contract on multiple condominiums at Cipriani Residences Miami, the revered hospitality brand’s first residential tower in the United States. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin com- + dominium domain

First Known Use

circa 1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for condominium

• gadolinium
• pyridinium
• actinium
• dominium
• 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