Possessive

/pəˈzɛsɪv/

Meaning & Definition

noun
a grammatical form that indicates ownership.
In the sentence 'Jane's book,' 'Jane's' is a possessive.
a person who exhibits possessive behavior.
He became a possessive when he feared losing her to someone else.
adjective
relating to ownership or possession; indicating that something belongs to someone.
She had a possessive attitude towards her belongings, never wanting to share.
characterized by an excessive desire to own or control.
His possessive nature made it difficult for her to maintain friendships.

Etymology

From Latin 'possessivus', from 'possessio'

Common Phrases and Expressions

possessive about someone:
excessively protective or jealous regarding someone's affections or actions
possessive pronoun:
a pronoun that denotes ownership, such as 'his' or 'their'
possessive case:
a grammatical case indicating ownership

Related Words

Slang Meanings

clingy
He can be really clingy, like overly possessive.
jealous
She's so jealous, it's like she's in possessive mode.