eminent domain

noun

: a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction

Examples of eminent domain in a Sentence

The state took the homes by eminent domain to build the new road.

Recent Examples on the Web

If the mediation breaks down, the county will trigger eminent domain and buy the land for the fuel depot. —Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025

After months of rumors about the downtown location, in January the company confirmed plans to shut down its stores in DOCO and the Sunrise Mall — the struggling retail center in Citrus Heights where city officials are contemplating eminent domain. —Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025

Separately, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty publicly threatened legal action against any potential uses of eminent domain for the project on behalf of local landowners and artists Tom and Mary Uttech. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 30 Dec. 2025

But eminent domain isn't being used to benefit the $10 billion development that government filings show could include 11 million square feet (1 million square meters) of data centers. —CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eminent domain

• diazomethane
• dichloroethane
• dichloromethane
• polyurethane
• trichloroethane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane

Kids Definition

eminent domain

noun

: a right of a government to take private property for public use

Legal Definition

eminent domain

noun

em·​i·​nent do·​main

ˈe-mə-nənt-

: the right of the government to take property from a private owner for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of its sovereignty over all lands within its jurisdiction see also condemn, expropriate, take sense 1b

Note: The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires the government to compensate the owner of property taken by eminent domain, stating “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” State constitutions contain similar provisions requiring that the property owner receive just compensation for the property taken.