property
PROP-uh-tee
Property (noun) means something that a person or organization owns, especially land, buildings, or possessions. Example: “They bought a small property on the edge of town.”
noun
1
Something that a person or organization owns, especially land, buildings, or possessions.
"They bought a small property on the edge of town."
"All of the equipment is company property."
"The tenant caused some damage to the landlord's property during the move."
2
A quality or characteristic that belongs to something, such as a material or a chemical.
"One property of rubber is its elasticity."
"Water has the property of expanding slightly when it freezes."
"Each metal has its own properties, such as hardness and how well it conducts heat."
3
(computing) A named setting or attribute belonging to an object or component, which can often be read or changed.
"You can set the "color" property of the button in the design panel."
"Set the width property to a larger value to make the box wider."
"The developer read the text property to check what the label displayed."
How to use property
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither something you own (land, goods) or a trait/attribute something has.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "propriety," which means correct or decent behaviour — the two words share the same Latin root but mean very different things today.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
private property
chemical property
intellectual property
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Word forms
- Plural
- properties
- Third person singular
- properties
- Past tense
- propertied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They bought a small _____ on the edge of town.
Etymology
From Middle English propertee, from Anglo-Norman propreté, ultimately from Latin proprietas ("ownership, a particular quality"), from proprius ("one's own"). A doublet of propriety — the two words split apart in meaning over time.
Synonyms
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possessions
assets
real estate
holdings
estate
attribute
characteristic
aught
belongings
owndom
possession
propriety
Related words
Rhymes for property
See all rhymes for property →Frequently asked questions
What does “property” mean?
The word “property” means something that a person or organization owns, especially land, buildings, or possessions. In plain terms, either something you own (land, goods) or a trait/attribute something has.
How do you pronounce “property”?
“Property” is pronounced PROP-uh-tee (/ˈpɹɑ.pɚ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “property” in a sentence?
Here is “property” used in a sentence: “They bought a small property on the edge of town.”
What is another word for “property”?
Words with a similar meaning to “property” include characteristic, aught, belongings, owndom, possession and propriety.
What part of speech is “property”?
“Property” is a noun.
Where does the word “property” come from?
The word “property” comes from Latin.
Is “property” a common word?
“Property” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “property” have?
“Property” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that a person or organization owns, especially land, buildings, or possessions.
What is the difference between property and propriety?
Despite the similar spelling, they're unrelated. 'Property' means something you own, such as land, buildings, or possessions. 'Propriety' means correctness of behaviour, conforming to accepted standards of manners and decency. You might own valuable property while also behaving with great propriety; the two words simply sound alike and are easily confused.
What are the types of property?
Lawyers divide property into real property, meaning land and anything permanently attached like buildings, and personal property, meaning movable possessions such as cars, furniture, and money. A third kind, intellectual property, covers creations of the mind like patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Each type is owned but governed by different rules.
What is the difference between property and real estate?
Real estate refers specifically to land and the buildings fixed to it. Property is a broader word: it includes real estate but also personal belongings and intellectual property. So all real estate is property, but property also covers things like your car or your ideas, which aren't real estate.
Does 'property' only mean things you own?
No. Besides ownership, 'property' can mean a characteristic or quality of something, as in 'a chemical property of water' or 'the healing properties of a herb.' In this sense it describes an attribute rather than a possession. Context makes clear whether ownership or a quality is meant.
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