condominium

[kon-duh-min-ee-uhm]

noun

1. an apartment house, office building, or other multiple-unit complex, the units of which are individually owned, each owner receiving a recordable deed to the individual unit purchased, including the right to sell, mortgage, etc., that unit and sharing in joint ownership of any common grounds, passageways, etc.

2. a unit in such a building.

3. International Law.

   1. joint sovereignty over a territory by several states.

   2. the territory itself.

4. joint or concurrent dominion.

condominium

/ ˌkɒndəˈmɪnɪəm /

noun

1. joint rule or sovereignty

2. a country ruled by two or more foreign powers

3. Sometimes shortened to: condo. Compare cooperative

   1. an apartment building in which each apartment is individually wholly owned and the common areas are jointly owned

   2. the title under which an apartment in such a building is owned

Other Word Forms

• mini-condominium noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of condominium¹

1705–15; < New Latin. See con-, dominium

Word History and Origins

Origin of condominium¹

C18: from New Latin, from Latin com- together + dominium ownership; see _dominion

Example Sentences

A California man was found living secretly in the crawl space of a condominium in Oregon, according officials, who say the man had outfitted the space with a bed, electricity, and other amenities.

From Los Angeles Times

The report suggested converting some of them to housing because they potentially could have more value as apartments or condominiums, which could help mitigate expected tax losses.

From Los Angeles Times

Oceanwide set to work on the complex, which was intended to house luxury condominiums, apartments, a five-star Park Hyatt hotel and an indoor mall that would include deluxe shops and restaurants.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman said she had bought a condominium in the city and was paying the mortgage, but that they never spent time there together as she was living with her mother at the time.

From BBC

Not a lot for a city of nearly 4 million people — even less considering that more than 9,000 rent-controlled apartments were demolished or converted to condominiums.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apartment 
• co-op 
• condo 
• townhouse www.thesaurus.com