eminent domain

noun

: a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction

Examples of eminent domain in a Sentence

The state took the homes by eminent domain to build the new road.

Recent Examples on the Web

And then eventually in 1924, the city ended up using eminent domain to shut it down and take the property away. —Outside Online, 5 Mar. 2025

The company is attempting to use eminent domain to clear its way, which incensed Lems. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025

The only way Mission could gain control of the property would be by purchasing it from the developer as part of a real estate transaction, or by using eminent domain to acquire the site for a public purpose, like a park. —Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025

No determination has been made about the use of eminent domain to accommodate electric transmission lines as part of the Energy Department’s National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors initiative, or NIETC. —John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eminent domain

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Kids Definition

eminent domain

noun

: a right of a government to take private property for public use

Legal Definition

eminent domain

noun

em·​i·​nent do·​main

ˈe-mə-nənt-

: the right of the government to take property from a private owner for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of its sovereignty over all lands within its jurisdiction see also condemn, expropriate, take sense 1b

Note: The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires the government to compensate the owner of property taken by eminent domain, stating “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” State constitutions contain similar provisions requiring that the property owner receive just compensation for the property taken.