WordGarden.iopossessor
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /pəzˈɛsə/
US
- /pəˈzɛsər/
Meanings
Noun
a person who has or owns something
a person who is in legal possession of property or land
the noun, pronoun, or phrase that owns something in a possessive construction
Beyond the definition
A possessor is a person, group, or thing that has or owns something. The word is often used in a slightly formal way. It can refer to physical things, like land, money, or a key, and it can also refer to less concrete things, like a talent, a quality, or a secret. In law, it can mean someone who has physical control of property, even if that person is not the legal owner.
The word "possessor" refers to the person, group, or entity that has, holds, or owns something. It is usually more formal than simply saying "owner" or "holder." In everyday use, it may describe someone with a physical object, such as "the possessor of a rare coin," but it can also describe someone who has a quality, ability, right, or piece of information.
A person may be the possessor of wealth, property, influence, talent, patience, or responsibility. In that sense, the word works with both concrete and abstract things. It does not always mean full legal ownership; sometimes it only means that someone currently has control or custody of something. That is why the word is useful in legal and formal writing, where the difference between having something and owning it can matter.
The term can also appear in special contexts, including stories about supernatural possession, where a spirit is described as the possessor of a body. Still, that is a narrower use. Most of the time, "possessor" simply means the one who has or holds something, especially in a formal, descriptive, or legal sense.
Examples
- 1
Lost property
The wallet should be returned to its rightful possessor.
- 2
Valuable objects
The museum is now the proud possessor of three early photographs by the artist.
- Phrasethe proud possessor of + object
someone who is pleased to have it
- 3
Legal status
The police must prove who was the possessor of the stolen goods.
- Domain
in legal use, a possessor may control something without legally owning it
- 4
Personal talent
As the possessor of a rare gift for languages, she quickly became useful to the team.
- Patternthe possessor of + quality
someone who has that quality
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- claimant
- dispossessed person
Used with (collocations)
- lawful possessor
- possessor of property
- current possessor
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- possessornoun
Forms
- possessorspluralnoun