property

[ˈprɒpəti]

property Definition

• 1. a thing or things belonging to someone; possessions collectively
• 2. a building or buildings and the land belonging to it or them
• 3. a quality or attribute characteristic of something or someone

Using property: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "property" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The property was sold for a high price.

• Example

  She inherited the family property.

• Example

  He lost all his property in the fire.

• Example

  The company owns several properties in the city.

property Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for property

• estate
• land
• quality
• attribute
• characteristic
• possessions
• belongings
• real estate

Antonyms for property

• deprivation
• lack

Idioms Using property

• put one's house in order (or affairs)

  to organize one's life or business affairs

  Example

  After the divorce, he needed to put his house in order and start over.

• on the property ladder

  in the process of buying and selling homes in order to move up to more expensive properties

  Example

  They started on the property ladder with a small apartment and worked their way up to a large house.

• property is theft

  a slogan coined by French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon to express his view that private property leads to social inequality and exploitation

  Example

  Some people believe that property is theft and that all goods should be owned collectively.

Phrases with property

• intellectual property

  a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect, such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks

  Example

  The company has invested heavily in protecting its intellectual property.

• personal property

  movable property that is not attached to real estate, such as furniture, clothing, and vehicles

  Example

  The insurance policy covers damage to personal property in the event of a burglary.

• real property

  land and any structures on it, such as buildings, trees, minerals, and water

  Example

  The real property was appraised at a higher value than expected.

Origins of property

from Latin 'proprietas', meaning 'ownership'

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Summary: property in Brief

The term 'property' [ˈprɒpəti] refers to belongings, possessions, or a characteristic of something or someone. It can also refer to a building and the land it occupies, as in 'The company owns several properties in the city.' 'Property' extends into phrases like 'intellectual property,' and idioms like 'put one's house in order,' denoting organization, and 'on the property ladder,' implying upward mobility.