# ownership

/ˈoʊnɝˌʃɪp/ (US) · /ˈəʊnəʃˌɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ownership
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. legal possession

noun · CEFR B2

the state of legally owning something, like a house, a car, or a company.

For teachers: the state or fact of legal possession and proprietorship. Uncountable in its abstract sense, though it can be countable when referring to specific models of holding property.

- The family has held ownership of the farm for over a hundred years.
- The dispute over the land's ownership lasted for decades, as neither party could produce the original deed from the nineteenth century.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of'.

### 2. responsibility

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

taking responsibility for a task or a problem and making sure it is finished.

For teachers: the act of taking responsibility for an idea, project, or problem, often in a professional or psychological context.

- The manager wants every team member to take ownership of their own projects.
- By giving employees more autonomy, the company encouraged them to take full ownership of the product development cycle.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'to take ownership of'.

## Examples

- The family celebrated their ownership of the new house.
- The company is moving toward employee ownership to give the staff a greater stake in the firm's success.
- Disputes over land ownership often require extensive historical research to determine which party holds the original title and whether any subsequent transfers were legally binding.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.