possession

noun

pos·​ses·​sion pə-ˈze-shən 

 also  -ˈse-

1

a

formal : the act or condition of having or taking into control

The enemy took possession of the town.

He has full possession of his senses/faculties.

b

: control or occupancy of property without regard to ownership

I have your keys in my possession for whenever you want them.

They came into possession of a valuable painting.

c

: ownership

silverware that has been in my family's possession for generations

The city took possession of the abandoned buildings.

d

: control of the ball or puck

also : an instance of having such control (as in football)

scored on their first two possessions

2

: something owned, occupied, or controlled : property

They lost all their possessions in a fire.

The ring was my mother's most prized possession.

3

a

: domination by something (such as an evil spirit, a passion, or an idea)

b

: a psychological state in which an individual's normal personality is replaced by another

c

: self-possession

4

: the crime of having something illegal (as a controlled substance)

possessional

pə-ˈzesh-nəl 

-ˈze-shə-nᵊl

 also  -ˈsesh-nəl

 or  -ˈse-shə-nᵊl

adjective

possessionless

pə-ˈze-shən-ləs 

-ˈse-

adjective

Synonyms of possession

• hands
• enjoyment

Examples of possession in a Sentence

The city can take possession of the abandoned buildings.

She came into possession of a rare silver coin.

The family lost all of its possessions in the fire.

This ring was my mother's most precious possession.

The defendant was charged with heroin possession.

Recent Examples on the Web

That revelation prodded insurgents in British possessions from Ireland to Sierra Leone to take to the streets to assert their own ambitions for economic and political autonomy over the decades to come. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

The mother of the boy who shot Zwerner, Deja Taylor, previously pleaded guilty to state charges of felony child neglect and federal marijuana possession while owning a handgun. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

Pacheco-Meza was charged with reckless homicide and driving under the influence, while Morales-Martinez was charged with drug possession and a weapons offense. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025

Relatives may also be in possession of advance declarations the patient made while still able to communicate. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing possession

• came into possession
• have in one's possession
• prized possession
• self-possession
• took possession
• vacant possession

Rhymes for possession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

possession

noun

pos·​ses·​sion pə-ˈzesh-ən 

1

a

: the act of possessing or holding as one's own : ownership

b

: control of property without regard to ownership

2

a

: something held as one's own

b

: an area under the control of but not actually part of a nation

island possessions of the U.S.

3

: control by an idea or influence from outside oneself

Legal Definition

possession

noun

pos·​ses·​sion pə-ˈze-shən 

1

: the act, fact, or condition of having control of something: as

a

: actual possession in this entry

b

: constructive possession in this entry

c

: knowing dominion and control over a controlled substance or other contraband

d

in the civil law of Louisiana : the detention or enjoyment of a corporeal thing

e

: control or occupancy of property

— actual possession

: direct occupancy, use, or control of real property

had actual possession of the land despite a lack of legal title

: direct physical custody, care, or control of property or contraband (as illegal drugs)

actual possession is not necessary to sustain a conviction

—State v. Garrison, 896 S.W.2d 689 (1995)

— adverse possession

: actual possession of another's real property that is open, hostile, exclusive, continuous, adverse to the claim of the owner, often under a claim of right or color of title, and that may give rise to title in the possessor if carried out for a specified statutory period (as ten years)

also : the method of acquiring title by such possession see also hostile possession and notorious possession in this entry compare prescription

— civil possession

in the civil law of Louisiana : possession that exists by virtue of an intent to be the owner of a property even though one no longer occupies or has physical control of it

— constructive possession

: possession that exists by virtue of a right (as by title) rather than direct occupancy or control

: the knowing ability and sometimes intent to exercise dominion and control over something (as illegal drugs) either directly or through others

— hostile possession

: possession (as in adverse possession) that is antagonistic to the claims of all others (as a record owner) and that is carried out with the intention to possess the property exclusively

— notorious possession

: possession (as in adverse possession) that is so conspicuous that it is generally known by people in the vicinity of the property and so gives rise to a presumption that the owner has notice of it

— precarious possession

in the civil law of Louisiana : possession of property that is exercised by another (as a lessee) with the permission of or on behalf of the owner see also acquisitive prescription at prescription

2

: something controlled, occupied, or owned

personal possessions