EMINENT DOMAIN


Meaning of EMINENT DOMAIN in English

n [ U ]

( in US law ) the right of the government to take private property for public use. The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution states that ‘just compensation’ (= fair payment) must be given to the owner when this happens. Eminent domain is used, for example, when houses must be destroyed to build a new motorway/freeway.

Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary.      Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь.