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Glite Dictionary
reversionary

reversionary

9.9
Relating to a future right to own something, often land or money
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈvɜrʒəˌnɛri/
  • Formal
translation icon : reversionario
  • In legal discussions, a reversionary right often ensures that the original owner can regain possession of their property in the future.

Examples

  • She held a reversionary interest in the family estate, which meant she could claim ownership once the current owner passed away.

  • The Court of Claims decided in the end that the trust of 1855 had not been extinguished and the cession of 1866 was not absolute, the Choctaw and Chickasaw retaining reversionary rights if the lands of the Leased District were used for some purpose other than Indian settlement.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The contract included a reversionary clause that specified what would happen to the property after the lease expired.

Synonyms

revertible
vsreversionary
  • Formal
9.4

Able to return to a previous owner, often by law

relates to the legal right to future possession rather than actual ability to return

Compounds

reversionary annuity
  • Formal
9.9

Regular payments that go to another person after the first person dies or cannot receive payments

Surface Forms

reversionary positive

Morphology

reversionary = reversion (semi-transparent) = re + version + ary

Formally transparent as 'reversion' + '-ary', but the meaning is specialized (legal/financial) and not fully predictable to general learners.

Etymology

Reversionary comes from the parts re- 'back' and vert 'turn', the same root you see in reverse ('turn back'). So a reversionary right is something that will 'turn back' or go back to its owner in the future.