eminent domain
20
6.3
- noun
- /ˈɛmɪnənt deɪˈmɛn/
- Formal
:
expropiación
- The value is determined the same way as in any eminent domain proceeding when two sides can't agree.
- eminent domain power
- exercise of eminent domain
- right of eminent domain
When you look at Suzette Kilo and what she did, essentially what happened is eminent domain was not used in its proper way.
- When you look at Suzette Kilo and what she did, essentially what happened is eminent domain was not used in its proper way.
Examples
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The Constitution granted the government the power of eminent domain for projects considered to be for the public good.
Blog text (19) -
Well, it appears that eminent domain does apply under this case.
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Now you want to tell me how to fight an eminent domain case?
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At this point, the government would purchase the property through the exercise of eminent domain.
Academic text (1991) -
The prospect of eminent domain arose during the developer's initial talks with city officials.
Academic text (2005) -
Like many Rust Belt cities and older suburbs, Norwood has used the legal weapon of eminent domain in its attempt to reinvent itself.
Academic text (2005) -
A municipality, however, retains the right to exercise its power of eminent domain and pay just compensation for its noncompliance with the freeze provision.
Academic text (2001) -
Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling in favor of the city council's bid to enact eminent domain laws was met with last-minute protests at City Hall yesterday.
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The city plans to use eminent domain to build a new highway through private property.
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Many residents protested when the government announced it would take their homes through eminent domain.
Synonyms
3
9.1
The taking of private land by the government to use for a public project
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although the constituents 'eminent' (notably distinguished) and 'domain' (territory or area) are individually understandable, their combination does not transparently yield the legal sense of a government's right to take private property. This is a specialized legal term (equivalent to 'expropriation') whose meaning is conventionally established rather than predictably compositional, so a B1 learner knowing the words would likely not infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Eminent domain comes from old ideas that the government is above private owners: eminent means 'higher' and domain means 'land' or 'property'. So imagine a higher power standing over a house and taking the land for 'public use', but giving the owner a fair 'payment'—that picture explains why the phrase means the government's right to take private property with payment.