property

noun

prop·​er·​ty ˈprä-pər-tē How to pronounce property (audio)
plural properties
Synonyms of propertynext
1
a
: a quality or trait belonging and especially peculiar to an individual or thing
b
: an effect that an object has on another object or on the senses
c
: virtue sense 2
d
: an attribute common to all members of a class
2
a
: something owned or possessed
specifically : a piece of real estate
b
: the exclusive right to possess, enjoy, and dispose of a thing : ownership
c
: something to which a person or business has a legal title
d
: one (such as a performer) who is under contract and whose work is especially valuable
e
: a book or script purchased for publication or production
3
: an article or object used in a play or motion picture except painted scenery and costumes
propertyless
ˈprä-pər-tē-ləs How to pronounce property (audio)
adjective
propertylessness
ˈprä-pər-tē-ləs-nəs How to pronounce property (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for property

quality, property, character, attribute mean an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified.

quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

Examples of property in a Sentence

We are not responsible for the loss of personal property. He was trying to sell stolen property. He was caught trespassing on private property. She owns all sorts of property around town. The students were caught smoking on school property. He owns several valuable properties in the area. a developer of commercial properties One of the properties of helium is its lightness. A unique property of garlic is its strong odor. The two plants have similar physical properties.
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.
Still, with any passion project that refuses to compromise, even at the risk of losing out on profits, the property became greatly neglected over time under the ownership of others. —Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 Volunteers visited the property more than 60 times between Aug. 31 and Nov. 11. —Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2024 The couple, parents of five who are now empty nesters, also often skinny dip in their outdoor hot tub on their Oklahoma property. —Lawrence Yee, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024 The property was then renamed to Trinity Music City. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for property 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English proprete, from Anglo-French propreté, from Latin proprietat-, proprietas, from proprius own

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of property was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing property

Dictionary Entries Near property

proper to

property

property damage

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Property.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/property. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

property

noun
prop·​er·​ty ˈpräp-ərt-ē How to pronounce property (audio)
plural properties
1
: a special quality of something
the commutative property of addition
sweetness is a property of sugar
2
: something (as land, goods, or money) that is owned
that lamp is my aunt's property
especially : a piece of real estate
a business property
3
: something other than scenery or costumes that is used in a play or movie
propertyless
-ē-ləs How to pronounce property (audio)
adjective

Legal Definition

property

noun
prop·​er·​ty
plural properties
1
: something (as an interest, money, or land) that is owned or possessed see also asset, estate, interest sense 1, possession sense 1e
— abandoned property
: property to which the owner has relinquished all rights

Note: When property is abandoned, the owner gives up the reasonable expectation of privacy concerning it. The finder of abandoned property is entitled to keep it, and a police officer may take possession of abandoned property as evidence without violating the guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

— after-acquired property
: property (as proceeds) that a debtor acquires after the commencement of a bankruptcy case and that is usually considered part of the bankruptcy estate
: property acquired after the perfection of a lien or security interest
especially : such property acquired after the creation of a lien or security interest that is subject to the lien or becomes collateral for the security interest
: property transferred to the estate of a decedent after execution of the will
— common property
: property owned or used by more than one party
specifically : property owned or leased by tenants in common compare tenancy in common at tenancy
— community property
: property held jointly by husband and wife
specifically : property especially from employment acquired by either spouse after marriage that is deemed in states having a community property system to belong to both spouses as undivided one-half interests compare joint tenancy and tenancy by the entirety at tenancy ownership in indivision at ownership

Note: The states having community property laws are Louisiana, Arizona, California, Texas, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

— immovable property
: real property in this entry
specifically, in the civil law of Louisiana : tracts of land with their component parts
— intangible property
: property (as a stock certificate or professional license) that derives value not from its intrinsic physical nature but from what it represents
— intellectual property \ ˌin-​tə-​ˈlek-​chə-​wəl-​ \
: property that derives from the work of the mind or intellect
specifically : an idea, invention, trade secret, process, program, data, formula, patent, copyright, or trademark or application, right, or registration relating thereto
— lost property
: property that has been left in an unknown location involuntarily but through no one's fault

Note: The finder of lost property has title to the property against all the world except the true owner.

— marital property
: property acquired by either spouse during the course of a marriage that is subject to division upon divorce see also antenuptial agreement

Note: In most states, upon divorce marital property is divided according to what the court determines is equitable.

— movable property
: property (as personal property or crops) that can be moved
— personal property
: property (as a vehicle) that is movable but not including crops or other resources still attached to land : property other than real property a tax on the personal property of the corporation
: property belonging to a particular person
— qualified terminable interest property
: property passing to a surviving spouse that qualifies for the marital deduction if the executor so elects providing that the spouse is entitled to receive income in payments made at least annually for life and that no one has a power to appoint any part of the property to any person other than the surviving spouse see also QTIP trust at trust

Note: Under federal tax law the property must be included in the gross estate of the surviving spouse at his or her own death, where it is subject to taxation.

— real property
: property consisting of land, buildings, crops, or other resources still attached to or within the land or improvements or fixtures permanently attached to the land or a structure on it
also : an interest, benefit, right, or privilege in such property

called also immovable property

— separate property
: property of a spouse that is not community property or marital property
especially : property acquired by a spouse before marriage or individually during marriage (as by gift or often by inheritance)
— tangible property
: property that has a tangible and corporeal existence and intrinsic economic value because of it the insurance policy restricted property damage coverage to tangible property compare intangible property in this entry
2
: one or more rights of ownership
Etymology

Anglo-French propreté, proprieté, from Latin proprietat-, proprietas, from proprius own, particular

More from Merriam-Webster on property

Nglish: Translation of property for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of property for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about property

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...