Ownership vs. Possession — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 14, 2024
"Ownership refers to the legal right to use, control, and dispose of property, whereas possession is the actual physical control or holding of that property."
Difference Between Ownership and Possession
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Ownership implies a legal relationship between a person and an item that gives the owner certain rights, including the right to transfer or sell the property, while possession means physically having or holding property, regardless of whether one has the right to do so.
Ownership rights are protected by law and can include intangible properties like intellectual property or shares, whereas possession is typically tangible and evident through physical control of an item.
It's possible to own something without possessing it, such as when property is leased to others, and conversely, it's possible to possess something without owning it, as seen with rented items.
The distinction is important in legal contexts; for example, someone might legally own a car but have it in the possession of a mechanic or friend, while another might possess a borrowed book without owning it.
Ownership is a broader concept that can impact credit, legal liability, and taxation, whereas possession impacts day-to-day use but does not necessarily confer these broader rights or responsibilities.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Legal right to use, control, and dispose.
Actual physical control or holding.
Rights Included
Transfer, sell, rent, or destroy.
Use and keep safe, but not sell or modify.
Type of Property
Can be tangible or intangible.
Primarily tangible, visible control.
Legal Protection
Full legal title and rights.
Temporary control, limited legal rights.
Examples
Owning a house, owning shares.
Renting a house, borrowing a book.
Compare with Definitions
Ownership
Includes responsibility and liability.
With car ownership, you're responsible for insurance and maintenance.
Possession
Does not imply ownership rights.
She is in possession of a rented car.
Ownership
May include intangible assets.
His ownership in the company amounts to 15% of the shares.
Possession
Legally distinct from ownership.
The thief had possession of stolen goods, but no ownership.
Ownership
Permanent, unless relinquished.
Ownership of heirlooms is passed down through generations.
Possession
Visible and tangible control.
The keys are in my possession now.
Ownership
Can be transferred legally.
Ownership of the land was transferred through a deed.
Possession
The act or fact of possessing.
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be any asset, including an object, land or real estate, intellectual property, or until the nineteenth century, human beings. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties.
Possession
The state of being possessed
The land's possession by the town.
Ownership
The act, state, or right of possessing something
The ownership of land
The rise in car ownership
Possession
Something owned or possessed
Removed his possessions from the desk.
Ownership
The state or fact of being an owner.
Possession
A territory subject to foreign control.
Ownership
A group that owns something
The ownership of the team wants to make a trade for a better pitcher.
Possession
Power or control over something
Possession of a firearm.
Ownership
The state of having complete legal control of something; possession; proprietorship.
Possession
Occupation or control of a piece of property, with or without ownership.
Ownership
(business) Responsibility for something.
The successful candidate will take ownership of all internal design projects.
Possession
A right of occupation and use
The tenant has possession of the apartment until the end of the lease.
Ownership
The state of being an owner; the right to own; exclusive right of possession; legal or just claim or title; proprietorship.
Possession
The crime of possessing an illegal drug.
Ownership
The relation of an owner to the thing possessed; possession with the right to transfer possession to others
Possession
The state of being dominated or controlled by a demon or spirit.
Ownership
The act of having and controlling property
Possession
The state of being occupied or obsessed with something, such as an idea.
Ownership
The state or fact of being an owner
Possession
Physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team.
Ownership
The legal right to control property.
She has full ownership of the intellectual property.
Possession
An instance of this
Ideally, we would score on each possession.
Possession
Control or occupancy of something for which one does not necessarily have private property rights.
Possession
Something that is owned.
The car quickly became his most prized possession.
I would gladly give all of my worldly possessions just to be able to do that.
Possession
Ownership; taking, holding, keeping something as one's own.
The car is in my possession.
I'm in possession of the car.
Possession
A territory under the rule of another country.
Réunion is the largest of France's overseas possessions.
Possession
The condition or affliction of being possessed by a demon or other supernatural entity.
Back then, people with psychiatric disorders were sometimes thought to be victims of demonic possession.
Possession
The condition of being under the control of strong emotion or madness.
Possession
(sports) Control of the ball; the opportunity to be on the offensive.
The scoreboard shows a little football symbol next to the name of the team that has possession.
Possession
(Australian rules football) A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball.
Possession
(linguistics) A syntactic relationship between two nouns or nominals that may be used to indicate ownership.
Some languages distinguish between a construction like 'my car', which shows alienable possession — the car could become someone else's — and one like 'my foot', which has inalienable possession — my foot will always be mine.
Possession
(obsolete) To invest with property.
Possession
The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.
Possession
The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.
Possession
The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions.
When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
Possession
The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession.
How long hath this possession held the man?
Possession
To invest with property.
Possession
The act of having and controlling property
Possession
Anything owned or possessed
Possession
Being controlled by passion or the supernatural
Possession
A mania restricted to one thing or idea
Possession
A territory that is controllled by a ruling state
Possession
The trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
Possession
(sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck);
They took possession of the ball on their own goal line
Possession
Actual holding or control of property.
He took possession of the apartment today.
Possession
Often temporary or conditional.
Possession of the library books is temporary until they are returned.
Common Curiosities
Can you possess something without owning it?
Yes, you can possess something without owning it, as in the case of borrowed or rented items.
What are examples of possessing something you do not own?
Examples include renting a house or leasing a car—situations where you have control but not the legal rights to sell or permanently alter.
Is it possible to own something that someone else possesses?
Yes, it is possible, such as when you own a car that a friend is currently using.
What is the key difference between ownership and possession?
The key difference is that ownership includes legal rights such as control, transfer, and disposition, while possession is about physical control or holding of an item.
Does intellectual property involve ownership, possession, or both?
Intellectual property involves ownership, which includes legal rights to use, license, or sell the ideas, but not possession since intellectual property is intangible.
Why is the distinction between ownership and possession important in business?
In business, distinguishing between ownership and possession is crucial for determining asset management, liability, and taxation.
How does ownership affect legal responsibility?
Ownership affects legal responsibility by attributing liability and the duty to maintain or care for the property to the owner.
How do laws protect ownership and possession?
Laws protect ownership by enforcing rights over property and possession by regulating the actual control individuals have over items.
What happens if someone possesses an item illegally?
If someone possesses an item illegally, they can be subject to criminal charges such as theft or unauthorized use, depending on the circumstances.
How does one transfer ownership without transferring possession?
One can transfer ownership without transferring possession through legal arrangements like leases or retaining usage rights while selling the property.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
