Meaning & Definition of word "Possessive"

Possessive

/pəˈzɛsɪv/

noun:

  • 1. a grammatical form that indicates ownership.
    • Example: In the sentence 'Jane's book,' 'Jane's' is a possessive.
  • 2. a person who exhibits possessive behavior.
    • Example: He became a possessive when he feared losing her to someone else.

adjective:

  • 1. relating to ownership or possession; indicating that something belongs to someone.
    • Example: She had a possessive attitude towards her belongings, never wanting to share.
  • 2. characterized by an excessive desire to own or control.
    • Example: 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

possess:

to have or own something

ownership:

the act of possessing something

possessor:

a person who owns or possesses something

Slang Meanings of possessive

Meaning: clingy

Example Sentence: He can be really clingy, like overly possessive.

Meaning: jealous

Example Sentence: She's so jealous, it's like she's in possessive mode.