# possessive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pəˈzɛs.ɪv/ · frequency rank #23,364

## Definitions
1. Of or pertaining to ownership or possession.
2. Indicating ownership, possession, origin, etc.
3. Unwilling to yield possession of.

## Etymology
From Middle French possessif, from Latin possessivus (“of or pertaining to possession”), from possessiō (“possessing”), from possidēre (“to possess”). By surface analysis, possess + -ive.

## Easily confused with
- **possession** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/possession-vs-possessive)

## Common misspellings (11)
`opssessive`, `posessive`, `posesssive`, `possesisve`, `possesive`, `possessiev`, `possessivve`, `possessvie`, `posssesive`, `ppossessive`, `psosessive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/possessive