ownership

noun

Definition of ownershipnext
as in control
the state or fact of owning something Home ownership is on the rise in this country. The café is now under new ownership.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ownership The project was never completed under his ownership, and a subsequent $16 million deal to sell the unfinished home to a developer in 2021 fell apart amid fraud allegations and legal disputes. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026 The land on which the studio sits remains under Rexford Industrial Realty ownership. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 The little things matter when committing to long-term ownership. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school's buildings. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ownership
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ownership
  1. control
  2. keeping
  3. proprietorship
  4. possession
  5. power
Noun
  • Communities from Lansing, Michigan, to Pflugerville, Texas, are ending their relationship with Flock, largely over concerns regarding out-of-control surveillance, unwanted data sharing, high expenses, and reports of police abusing the tool.
    — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • According to the sheriff's office, Awais used his property-management companies and his relationships with association board members to exert control over the organizations' operations and finances.
    — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • Globally, last month tied 2024 as the warmest July since record-keeping began in 1850.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The report’s authors said promise-keeping, more than promise-speed, seems to drive the purchase decision overall.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of keeping
Noun
  • Those colours, as worn by Newton Heath — the club formed in 1878 who became Manchester United in 1902 — would become a symbol of the fight against the Glazers’ proprietorship.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The New York Times described its methodology for producing the list, which started with selecting the criteria against which stores would be judged, including inventory, curation, proprietorship, customer service, ambience, location and payoff.
    — Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Definition of proprietorship
Noun
  • Geneva rolled up 466 yards and crossed the goal line on six of its 10 possessions.
    — Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The 10-play scoring drive was possible in part because of a 17-yard pass from Hyppolite to Ty Hayes on fourth and 5 that kept the possession alive and moved them into the red zone.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of possession
Noun
  • As Itauma continued attempting to throw power punches, Hrgović knew his opponent had nothing left and went for the kill.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The last act before festival founder Olivia Rodrigo, Roan turned it out with all of her powers—bolstered by a bold and bitchy, razor-sharp bob.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of power

Browse Nearby Words

owners
ownership
owning
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Cite this Entry

“Ownership.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ownership. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ownership

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ownership

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