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

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

After the Penfields completed work on their new home in northeastern Ohio in 1955, construction on Interstate 90 threatened to take over the property via eminent domain. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025

This was attempted in 2012, when the GFC San Bernardino County considered taking over distressed mortgages to prevent foreclosure by eminent domain. —Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Their concerns include noise, vibrations, pollution, property values and the likely use of eminent domain. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eminent domain

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• dichloroethane
• dichloromethane
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• trichloroethane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
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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.