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

The project will require buying easements for the trail or using eminent domain, meaning providing compensation to some property owners living along the river to acquire the land needed. —Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 25 Nov. 2025

Using eminent domain in the late 1960s, more than 240 families were displaced in the West End to make way for I-77 and the Brookshire. —Charlotte Observer, 25 Nov. 2025

Bob McNamara, deputy litigation director at the Institute for Justice, a national nonprofit that takes on eminent domain cases, says King had a chance of winning her case. —Paresh Dave, Wired News, 24 Nov. 2025

The move was considered a first step before a potential eminent domain action, which some attorneys viewed as a potential violation of Colorado law, which bars the use of public condemnation powers to benefit a private party. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eminent domain

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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.