possession is nine-tenths of the law

proverb

One who has possession of a thing has some right to it; a popular statement of the doctrine of adverse possession.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative possession is nine points of the law

  1. One who has possession of a thing has some right to it; a popular statement of the doctrine of adverse possession.

Origin

From possession is nine points of the law.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Hebrew גדולה חזקה מטענה, חזקה היא תשע עשיריות מהחוק
  • גדולה חזקה מטענהproverb
  • חזקה היא תשע עשיריות מהחוקproverb
  • המחזיק בנכס הוא כמעט בעליו החוקיproverb
Cite this entry
APA

possession is nine-tenths of the law. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/possession%20is%20nine-tenths%20of%20the%20law

MLA

“possession is nine-tenths of the law.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/possession%20is%20nine-tenths%20of%20the%20law. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “possession is nine-tenths of the law,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/possession%20is%20nine-tenths%20of%20the%20law.

Source: possession is nine-tenths of the law on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.