possessive
3 synonyms for possessive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Reluctant to share or give up something one considers one's own.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Reluctant to share or give up something one considers one's own.
“He gets possessive about his tools.”
2. noun
The grammatical case or form showing ownership.
“"John's" is the possessive form of "John."”
How to use possessive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
possessive pronoun
get possessive
Etymology
From Latin possessivus, "relating to possession."
Full origin of possessive →Frequently asked questions
What does “possessive” mean?
The word “possessive” means reluctant to share or give up something one considers one's own. In plain terms, unwilling to share something, or the grammar term for showing ownership (like adding 's).
How do you pronounce “possessive”?
“Possessive” is pronounced puh-ZEHS-ihv (/pəˈzɛs.ɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “possessive” in a sentence?
Here is “possessive” used in a sentence: “He gets possessive about his tools.”
What part of speech is “possessive”?
Depending on how it is used, “possessive” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “possessive” come from?
The word “possessive” comes from Latin. From Latin possessivus, "relating to possession.".
Is “possessive” a common word?
“Possessive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “possessive” have?
“Possessive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: reluctant to share or give up something one considers one's own.
Related words
comitative
genitive
ktetic
possessive adjective
possessive determiner
possessive pronoun
possessive suffix
proprietary
proprietive
proprietorial
