Origin: Latin suffix -sion
Possession has 9 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of having and controlling property
"The new law regarding possession requires tenants to keep their belongings organized in a designated storage unit."
anything owned or possessed
"After the fire, the insurance company listed every piece of furniture and clothing as part of the total possession lost in the blaze."
being controlled by passion or the supernatural
"The possessed man spoke in a voice that was clearly not his own, claiming to be under demonic control."
a mania restricted to one thing or idea
"His obsession with collecting antique clocks turned into an unhealthy possession that consumed all his free time and savings."
a territory that is controlled by a ruling state
"The treaty officially recognized the island as French possession."
the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
"After years of addiction, he finally found possession over his impulses and stopped drinking every day."
(sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck)
"they took possession of the ball on their own goal line"
Control or occupancy of something for which one does not necessarily have private property rights.
"The police seized the stolen car, establishing their temporary possession until the rightful owner could be located."
In plain English: Possession is when you have control over something and it belongs to you.
"The police searched his home to find proof of possession for any illegal drugs."
Usage: Use possession to describe physical control over an item, such as holding someone's phone during an arrest, even if you do not own it. This distinguishes the word from ownership, where legal title and permanent rights are held by another party.
To invest with property.
"The king possessed his new lands in 1066 after defeating the previous ruler."
The word comes from Latin possessio, which referred to the act of taking or holding something as one's own. It entered English through French in the late 14th century with this same meaning of ownership or control.