ownership

noun

own·​er·​ship ˈō-nər-ˌship How to pronounce ownership (audio)
plural ownerships
Synonyms of ownershipnext
1
: the state, relation, or fact of being an owner
Warhol died in 1987, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts assumed ownership of his work.—Adam Liptak
… transfer of business and farm ownerships …—The Columbian (Clark County, Washington) (online)
2
: a group or organization of owners
The sale, if approved by at least 75% of major league ownership, would value the team at $1.725 billion.—Cale Clinton
3
: the quality or state of being accountable : responsibility
A successful candidate must settle all fines and costs owed to the society … and take full ownership for the conduct that led to their disciplinary hearing.—Maggie McIntosh
The important thing in those situations is to promptly accept ownership of a misstep, do what's necessary to clean up the mess, and make the changes necessary to ensure it doesn't happen again.—Danville (Virginia) Register & Bee

Examples of ownership in a Sentence

The company is under private ownership.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The production will mark the inaugural show at the Bridge Theatre, a 900-seat venue on the Thames near Tower Bridge, under its new ownership by Trafalgar Entertainment. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, keeping firearms securely locked and unloaded away from kids and unauthorized individuals is a fundamental part of responsible gun ownership. — Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 The owners’ arrival in San Diego comes as Dodgers owner Mark Walter faces a federal probe into his business empire, fueling speculation about a possible ownership change despite assurances the team won’t be sold. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 In May 2025, when Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises announced their majority ownership, York was mentioned alongside Marathe’s as the leaders of the 49ers investment entity. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ownership

Word History

Etymology

owner + -ship

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ownership was in 1583

Phrases Containing ownership

Rhymes for ownership

See All Rhymes for ownership

Browse Nearby Words

owner-occupier
ownership
own goal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ownership.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ownership. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

ownership

noun
own·​er·​ship
: the state, relation, or fact of being an owner
also : the rights or interests of an owner
— absolute ownership
: ownership especially by a single person that is free of any encumbrances or limitations other than statutory law compare fee simple absolute at fee simple
— ostensible ownership \ ä-​ˈsten-​sə-​bəl-​ \
: ownership that is apparent rather than actual and that sometimes is recognized in cases of purchase of the property by an innocent third party a dispute arising from the dealer's ostensible ownership and sale of the collateral

Note: A purchaser from a person with ostensible ownership of property may be able to defeat the claim to the property of the actual owner who created the ostensible ownership.

— ownership in indivision
in the civil law of Louisiana : ownership by two or more persons each having undivided shares in the property as a whole compare community property at property
— qualified ownership
: ownership that is limited by time, the interest of another party, or restrictions on the use of the property had only qualified ownership of the fish and game on his property due to state restrictions

More from Merriam-Webster on ownership

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ownership

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ownership

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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