Phrase guide

possession is nine-tenths of the law

proverb · 1 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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1

proverb

Meaning 1

One who has possession of a thing has some right to it; a popular statement of the doctrine of adverse possession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From possession is nine points of the law.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hebrew: גדולה חזקה מטענה — proverb
  • Hebrew: חזקה היא תשע עשיריות מהחוק — proverb
  • Hebrew: המחזיק בנכס הוא כמעט בעליו החוקי — proverb