dispossess
verb
dis·pos·sess
ˌdis-pə-ˈzes 
also -ˈses
dispossessed; dispossessing; dispossesses
: to put out of possession or occupancy
dispossessed the nobles of their land
Examples of dispossess in a Sentence
The land was settled by dispossessing the native people who lived here.
opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes
Recent Examples on the Web
The term is Albertus’s rather mild moniker for the violent way European settlers seized swaths of the earth, dispossessing and often killing those who already inhabited them.
—
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
There was a pirouette and backheel flick in the 38th minute, which did not lead to much, and a 67th-minute dribble inside off the left flank that only saw him get dispossessed.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Island residents could be dispossessed by land privatization, not unlike what happened in Hawaii, said Siniva Bennett, board chair of the Samoa Pacific Development Corp., a Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit.
—Mark Thiessen, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
There was a moment in the second half when Cuthbert dispossessed opposite number Grace Clinton, then dribbled away from her, got her body in the way and won a free kick.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 May 2025
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Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
There was a pirouette and backheel flick in the 38th minute, which did not lead to much, and a 67th-minute dribble inside off the left flank that only saw him get dispossessed.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Island residents could be dispossessed by land privatization, not unlike what happened in Hawaii, said Siniva Bennett, board chair of the Samoa Pacific Development Corp., a Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit.
—Mark Thiessen, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
There was a moment in the second half when Cuthbert dispossessed opposite number Grace Clinton, then dribbled away from her, got her body in the way and won a free kick.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispossess
Cite this Entry
“Dispossess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispossess. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dispossess
verb
dis·pos·sess
ˌdis-pə-ˈzes
: to take away the possession of or the right to occupy land or houses
Legal Definition
dispossess
transitive verb
dis·pos·sess
ˌdis-pə-ˈzes
: to put out of possession or occupancy compare evict
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