property
gb/pɹˈɑpɚti/ us/pɹˈɑpɚti/
A2
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
land, buildings, or belongings owned
Land, houses, or things that someone owns.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s property
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'property' (things you own) with 'propriety' (correct behavior).
Synonyms
real estate (Refers specifically to land and buildings, often in a business context.)
Antonyms
public land (Land owned by the government and open for public use.)
Collocations
private property
|property owner
|property value
|property rights
|property market
Themes
business
|law
|daily life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company owns several properties in the city center.
- Please do not enter—this is private property.
- Her property includes two houses and a large garden.
- Property values have increased sharply in this area.
Learner examples
- This is my property.
- That house is her property.
- We walked on private property.
- He sold his property last year.
Noun
B1
entity
2
quality or feature of something
A special quality or feature of something.
Usage pattern:
[something] has the property of [verb+ing/noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use 'property' in plural for a single characteristic; in this sense it is usually uncountable unless referring to multiple distinct qualities.
Synonyms
characteristic (More general and can refer to personal traits as well as object features.)
Antonyms
flaw (An imperfection that is opposite to a desirable property.)
Collocations
physical property
|chemical property
|unique property
Themes
science
|general
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Water has the property of expanding when it freezes.
- One useful property of glass is transparency.
- This material has insulating properties.
Learner examples
- Glass has the property of letting light through.
- Salt has the property of dissolving in water.
- Iron has the property of being strong.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
object used in theater or film
An object actors use in a play or movie.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse this meaning with 'property' as in land ownership; context in arts is key.
Synonyms
prop (Informal and more common term in theater and film contexts.)
Collocations
stage property
|theatrical property
Themes
arts
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The sword was just a stage property made of plastic.
- Actors must return all properties after the performance.
- The director asked for more properties to make the scene realistic.
Learner examples
- The actor held a property in his hand.
- That chair is a property for the play.
- They used many properties in the show.
Grammar
Dictionary form
property
IPA
GB/pɹˈɑpɚti/
US/pɹˈɑpɚti/
Syllables & stress
prop - erty (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (prop)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: property
- Plural: properties, property
Word family
Forms
properties
noun
Related words
proprietor
noun C1
proprietary
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
improper
adjective B2
improperly
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
propriety
noun C1
Expressions
private property
1/pɹˈaɪvɪt pɹˈɑpɚti/
fixed phrase
land or belongings not for public use
Land or things that belong to a person or company and are not for everyone to use.
Examples
- Trespassing on private property is illegal.
- The sign clearly says 'Private Property'.
property market
1/pɹˈɑpɚti mˈɑɹkɪt/
fixed phrase
market for buying and selling real estate
The business of buying and selling houses, land, or buildings.
Examples
- The property market is booming this year.
- They invested heavily in the property market.
intellectual property
1/ˌɪntəlˈɛkt͡ʃuəl pɹˈɑpɚti/
fixed phrase
formal
legal ownership of creative works
Things like ideas, writing, art, or inventions that the law protects as belonging to someone.
Examples
- Copyright is a form of intellectual property.
- The company registered its logo as intellectual property.
intellectual property
2/ˌɪntəlˈɛkt͡ʃuəl pɹˈɑpɚti/
fixed phrase
Legal rights for creations of the mind
Ideas, designs, and inventions that someone owns by law.
Examples
- The company is fighting to protect its intellectual property.
- Patents are a form of intellectual property.