uti possidetis

noun

The principle of a treaty which leaves belligerents mutually in possession of the acquisitions they have gained by force during the war.

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Meanings

noun
  1. lawThe principle of a treaty which leaves belligerents mutually in possession of the acquisitions they have gained by force during the war.

    1833, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States The peace of Breda, in 1667, confirmed the title in the conquerors by the rule of uti possidetis. In the succeeding Dutch war the colony was reconquered; but it was restored to the Duke of York upon the succeeding peace of 1674.

    1 more example

    1911, Encyclopædia Britannica in 1206, the king did make an expedition to Poitou, and recovered some of its southern borders. Yet, with his usual inconsequence, he did not follow up his success, but made a two years’ truce with Philip of France on the basis of uti possidetis—which left Normandy and all the territories on and about the Loire in the hands of the conqueror.

  2. Ancient RomehistoricallawA kind of interdict granted to one person who claimed possession of a land, in order that he be declared the legal possessor, and that the other party in the suit must not take the land by force.

Origin

From the Latin phrase uti possidetis, ita possideatis, literally as you possess, so you shall possess.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

uti possidetis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uti%20possidetis

MLA

“uti possidetis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uti%20possidetis. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “uti possidetis,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uti%20possidetis.

Source: uti possidetis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.