condominium

[kon-duh-min-ee-uh m] /ˌkɒn dəˈmɪn i əm/

noun

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.

a unit in such a building.

International Law.

joint sovereignty over a territory by several states.
the territory itself.

joint or concurrent dominion.

Origin

1705-15; < Neo-Latin. See con-, dominium

Related forms

mini-condominium, noun

Examples from the web for condominium

Improving energy efficiency in a rental apartment requires attention to the same details as in a house or condominium.
Perhaps you're ready to move into a smaller house, a condominium or a retirement home.
Single-family lots become smaller, and condominium and apartment buildings go up.
And the cost of closing on a loan for a condominium is normally higher than for a co-op.
My rental building has been sold and, according to the newspapers, will become a condominium.
The plan, he'd heard, was to demolish the whole block and replace it with a high-rise condominium and office complex.
It offers a variety of options for your stay, including condominium rentals, townhomes and lodges for every budget.
Others haven't saved enough yet for the down payment on a condominium.

British Dictionary definitions for condominium

condominium

/ˌkɒndəˈmɪnɪəm/

noun (pl) -ums

joint rule or sovereignty

a country ruled by two or more foreign powers

(US & Canadian)

an apartment building in which each apartment is individually wholly owned and the common areas are jointly owned
the title under which an apartment in such a building is owned

Sometimes shortened to condo, Compare cooperative (sense 5)

Word Origin

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

Contemporary definitions for condominium

noun

a condom

Examples

condominiums in his wallet

Usage Note

slang

Word Origin and History for condominium

c.1714, "joint rule or sovereignty," from Modern Latin condominium "joint sovereignty," apparently coined in German c.1700 from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + dominum "right of ownership" (see domain). A word in politics and international law until sense of "privately owned apartment" arose in American English 1962 as a special use of the legal term.