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bona vacantia

noun plural

bo·​na va·​can·​tia
ˈbō-nə-vā-ˈkan-shē-ə
: goods that are unclaimed and without an apparent owner
it was trash, in the nature of bona vacantia, which the defendants had abandonedUnited States v. Calise, 217 F. Supp. 705 (1962)

Word History

Etymology

Latin, ownerless goods

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Cite this Entry

“Bona vacantia.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/bona%20vacantia. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.

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