Possession; having some degree of control over something else. A person may be in possession of some property (although possession seldom implies ownership); a spirit may be in possession of a person.

Like ownership, the possession of things is commonly regulated by states (see law)


The term possession can also have more specific meanings:

  • A political possession is a territory under the control and protection of a larger country, but which is not considered part of that country. For example, Guam is a possession of the United States.

  • Spiritual possession refers to the supposed ability of some spirits to inhabit a human body.

  • Possession is also a type of ownership supported by some proponents of anarchism who seek to abolish private property as an institution of coercion.


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