dispossess

American  

[dis-puh-zes] / ˌdɪs pəˈzɛs /

verb (used with object)

1. to put (a person) out of possession, especially of real property; oust.

2. to banish.

3. to abandon ownership of (a building), especially as a bad investment.

   Landlords have dispossessed many old tenement buildings.

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dispossess British  

/ ˌdɪspəˈzɛs /

verb

1. (tr) to take away possession of something, esp property; expel

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Related Words

See strip ¹.

Other Word Forms

• dispossession noun
• dispossessor noun
• dispossessory adjective

Etymology

Origin of dispossess

First recorded in 1425–75; dis- ¹ + possess; replacing Middle English disposseden, equivalent to dis- ¹ + posseden (from Old French posseder ), from Latin possidēre; possess

Example Sentences

"Hold On to Me" from Cyprus traces the efforts of an 11-year-old tracking down her estranged father, while documentary "Kikuyu Land" from Kenya examines how powerful outside forces use local corruption to dispossess a people.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

They were visualizing that they would just dispossess them.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2024

But Leeds upped their game in the second half as Piroe had a shot well saved by Hermansen, while James Justin did well to dispossess Summerville in a dangerous area soon after.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2023

Vela’s faint effort to dispossess León of the ball was in vain.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2023

The commissioners gave impartial testimony here, for they were trying to dispossess Massachusetts of the government she had assumed over Maine since 1652.

From Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast by Drake, Samuel Adams

Related Words

• evict