eminent domain
noun
: a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction
Examples of eminent domain in a Sentence
The state took the homes by eminent domain to build the new road.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pending bills include establishing the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency and having that new department investigate cases of possible racially-motivated eminent domain.
—
Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 23 June 2024
But in 1911, the land was taken from tribal members by eminent domain on behalf of the companies that would construct Copco No. 1 Dam, forcing members to relocate.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
The people of the small tribe were removed from their homes through eminent domain.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024
Through eminent domain, the Siskiyou Electric Power and Light Company — later reorganized as the California-Oregon Power Company, or Copco — took the land in the 1910s for the construction of the Copco dam.
—Esther Sun, Sacramento Bee, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for eminent domain 
Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 23 June 2024
But in 1911, the land was taken from tribal members by eminent domain on behalf of the companies that would construct Copco No. 1 Dam, forcing members to relocate.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
The people of the small tribe were removed from their homes through eminent domain.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024
Through eminent domain, the Siskiyou Electric Power and Light Company — later reorganized as the California-Oregon Power Company, or Copco — took the land in the 1910s for the construction of the Copco dam.
—Esther Sun, Sacramento Bee, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for eminent domain
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eminent domain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near eminent domain
Cite this Entry
“Eminent domain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eminent%20domain. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share