possessor

Possessor is a term used to describe a person, organization, or entity that has ownership, control, or physical possession of something. In everyday language, a possessor is the holder of an object or property, and possession can be distinct from ownership or entitlement.

In linguistics, possessor refers to the grammatical function within a noun phrase that denotes the owner of the possessed item. Possessive constructions in many languages may place the possessor before the possessed noun (as in John’s book) or express possession with a dependent phrase (as in the book of John). English commonly uses an affixed form like 's or a of-phrase to mark possession, while other languages employ different strategies such as case marking, particles, or noun-noun genitives. Linguistic analyses distinguish various configurations, including external versus internal possessors, and note how possession interacts with number, person, and definiteness.

In law and everyday practice, a possessor is someone who has actual physical control or occupancy of property, regardless of whether they own it. Possession can grant certain rights and duties and may be relevant in disputes over title, use, and conveyance. In some legal regimes, possession itself can lead to additional rights or remedies, such as protection against interference or, in specific circumstances, the possibility of acquiring title through possession.

Across disciplines, the concept of a possessor centers on the bearing relationship of having or controlling an object, whether through ownership, linguistic marking, or legal possession.