Phrase guide

eminent domain

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The right of a government over the private property within its jurisdiction. Usually invoked to compel land owners to sell their property in preparation for a major construction project such as a freeway.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Philippines, US, uncountable

Topics: law, property

Examples

  • The city council used eminent domain to make me sell my store.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

In feudalism, the legal interest or rights of a lord or superior in an estate in land held in fee, as opposed to the vassal's or tenant's interest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical, uncountable

Topics: law, property

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the right of the state to take private property for public use; the Fifth Amendment that was added to the Constitution of the United States requires that just compensation be made

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: legal right

History

Etymology

Calque of New Latin dominium ēminēns (literally “supreme ownership”).

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: հանրային գերակա շահ (hanrayin geraka šah) — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Armenian: գերակա հանրային շահ (geraka hanrayin šah) — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Dutch: onteigening — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Finnish: pakkolunastus — government's right to expropriate private land
  • French: expropriation — government's right to expropriate private land
  • French: expropriation pour cause d'utilité publique — government's right to expropriate private land
  • German: Enteignung — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Italian: espropriazione per pubblica utilità — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Italian: occupazione d'urgenza — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Polish: wywłaszczenie — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Polish: ekspropriacja — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Portuguese: desapropriação — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Spanish: expropiación — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Swedish: expropriation — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Swedish: expropriering — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Swedish: tvångsinlösen — government's right to expropriate private land
  • Dutch: oppereigendom — lord's property interest in a fief or fee
  • French: domaine direct — lord's property interest in a fief or fee
  • French: domaine éminent — lord's property interest in a fief or fee
  • German: Obereigentum — lord's property interest in a fief or fee
  • Polish: ekspropriacja — lord's property interest in a fief or fee