dispossess

1 of 2

verb

dis·​pos·​sess ˌdis-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce dispossess (audio)
also -ˈses
dispossessed; dispossessing; dispossesses
Synonyms of dispossessnext

transitive verb

: to put out of possession or occupancy
dispossessed the nobles of their land
dispossession noun
dispossessor
ˌdis-pə-ˈze-sər How to pronounce dispossess (audio)
also -ˈse-
noun

dispossessor

2 of 2

noun

dis·​pos·​ses·​sor "+ How to pronounce dispossessor (audio)
: one that dispossesses someone of something

Synonyms of dispossess

Examples of dispossess in a Sentence

Verb The land was settled by dispossessing the native people who lived here. opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
He was tackled and dispossessed with the ball on a trajectory to the goal. Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026 Back in a virtual Foxborough, the eyes of Iraqi goalkeeper Hassan — before, during and after Haaland had brutally dispossessed him in his own six-yard box — tell quite the story. Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 24 June 2026 The family owners of Fischer Bücherei were Jews of Hungarian origin, who had been dispossessed of their publishing house by the Nazis before it was returned to them after the war. Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 Kelsy dispossessed San Diego in its defensive third, cut back to evade a defender at the edge of the penalty area, and skipped a shot inside the near post to give the Timbers (3-5-1) a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispossess

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle French despossesser, from des- dis- + possesser to possess

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispossess was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispossess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispossess. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

dispossess

verb
dis·​pos·​sess ˌdis-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce dispossess (audio)
: to take away the possession of or the right to occupy land or houses
dispossession noun

Legal Definition

dispossess

transitive verb
dis·​pos·​sess ˌdis-pə-ˈzes How to pronounce dispossess (audio)
: to put out of possession or occupancy compare evict
dispossession noun
dispossessor noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dispossess

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster