Possesion vs. Possession: The Correct Spellings

The term "possession" traces its roots to the Latin word "possessio," derived from "possidere," which means "to possess." As a result, related words such as "possess," "possessor," and "possessive" have evolved.

Between "possesion" and "possession," the latter is the correct spelling. The distinction between them is the number of "s" characters in the middle of the word; "possesion" has one, while "possession" has two.

For those attempting to remember the correct spelling of "possession," consider the idea of "owning" both "s" characters in the word, indicating a strong "possession" of them. Always think of the double "s" as signifying the strong hold or grip one has over something they possess.

Incorrect: He was arrested for drug possesion.

Correct: He was arrested for drug possession.

Incorrect: Her possesion of the property was disputed by her relatives.

Correct: Her possession of the property was disputed by her relatives.

Incorrect: The museum's possesion of the artifact became a legal battle.

Correct: The museum's possession of the artifact became a legal battle.

Incorrect: The team fought hard for ball possesion throughout the game.

Correct: The team fought hard for ball possession throughout the game.

Incorrect: He took great pride in his car possesion.

Correct: He took great pride in his car possession.

Possession can also refer to something owned, such as a belonging or property.

Possession can denote a territory or area controlled by a country or entity.

Possession also means having control over one's self or one's faculties.

Possession refers to the state of owning or having control over something.

In a supernatural context, possession can indicate the control of a human by a spirit or demon.

The act or fact of possessing.

The state of being possessed

Something owned or possessed

A territory subject to foreign control.

Power or control over something

Occupation or control of a piece of property, with or without ownership.

A right of occupation and use

The crime of possessing an illegal drug.

The state of being dominated or controlled by a demon or spirit.

The state of being occupied or obsessed with something, such as an idea.

Physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team.

An instance of this

Control or occupancy of something for which one does not necessarily have private property rights.

Something that is owned.

Ownership; taking, holding, keeping something as one's own.

A territory under the rule of another country.

The condition or affliction of being possessed by a demon or other supernatural entity.

The condition of being under the control of strong emotion or madness.

(sports) Control of the ball; the opportunity to be on the offensive.

(Australian rules football) A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball.

(linguistics) A syntactic relationship between two nouns or nominals that may be used to indicate ownership.

(obsolete) To invest with property.

The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.

The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.

The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions.

The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession.

To invest with property.

the act of having and controlling property

anything owned or possessed

being controlled by passion or the supernatural

a mania restricted to one thing or idea

a territory that is controllled by a ruling state

the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior

(sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck);

He lost possession of his property after failing to pay taxes.

She took possession of her new office today.

The player gained possession of the ball and scored a goal.

The museum has a rare painting in its possession.

She has a large collection of books in her possession.

Finding lost items and returning them to their rightful possession is rewarding.

The team's strategy focuses on maintaining possession of the ball.

The defendant was charged with unauthorized possession of confidential documents.

He had illegal substances in his possession when searched.

They have a family heirloom in their possession for generations.

The artist's possession of a unique style sets her work apart.

Her possession of unique skills made her an asset to the company.

She inherited the possession of a vast estate from her relatives.

Ownership and possession of the land were transferred to the community.

The legal document confirmed her possession of the intellectual property.

The country claimed possession of the disputed territory.

Maintaining possession of one's calm in stressful situations is important.

In many cultures, possession of certain items symbolizes status and wealth.

The ancient manuscript came into the library's possession last year.

The law prohibits the possession of certain wildlife species.

He showed us his latest possession, a vintage motorcycle.

After the storm, many people found themselves without possession of their homes.

The possession of multiple languages benefits global communication.

The thief was caught with the stolen jewels in his possession.

The possession of a valid ticket is required to enter the concert.

Having physical custody of something makes it easier to legally claim it as one's own.

Something very valuable or important to someone.

To acquire or receive something.

Having something that one should not have, often because it belongs to someone else.

To no longer have control or ownership of something.

Having something with the purpose to use it in a specific way, often related to illegal substances.

To relinquish control or ownership of something.

Being owned or held by someone.

Not having something anymore.

To gain control or ownership of something.

The act of passing control or ownership of something to someone else.

Mental composure or self-control.

Being under the control or ownership of a particular person.

Having something for a limited period of time.

Items that belong to an individual and are meant for personal use.

Having something with the legal right to do so.

Actually holding or having something on one's person or property.

To acquire control or ownership of something.

Having the sole ownership or control of something.

Shared ownership or control of something with another person or group.

No, "possession" with two "s" characters in the middle is the correct spelling.

"Possession" is a noun form of the verb "possess," meaning to own or control.

It originates from the Latin "possessio," which is derived from "possidere," meaning "to possess."

Think of "owning" both "s" characters, representing the idea of having a strong hold or possession.

Yes, "possessor" refers to someone who possesses or owns something.

In law, "possession" can refer to the control or occupancy of property, regardless of whether the possessor owns the title to it.

It refers to the act or state of owning or controlling something.

Some forms include "possess," "possessor," and "possessive."

Yes, it can refer to the control of a person by a spirit or demon.

The word can be used in various contexts, from sports (team possession of a ball) to everyday life (personal possessions).