co-own: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Legal, Business
Quick answer
What does “co-own” mean?
To share ownership of something jointly with one or more other people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To share ownership of something jointly with one or more other people.
To possess a legal share or title to property, a business, or an asset alongside others.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar. 'Jointly own' is more common in both. Legal contexts may prefer 'hold as tenants in common' (UK/US) or 'hold as joint tenants'.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slightly more business-like.
Frequency
Low to medium frequency in business/legal registers. Rare in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “co-own” in a Sentence
[Person/Entity 1] + co-own + [Asset] + with + [Person/Entity 2]The siblings co-own the house.They co-own it.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “co-own” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The two brothers decided to co-own the family cottage.
- They legally co-own the copyright to the software.
American English
- The investors will co-own the shopping plaza.
- She co-owns the trademark with her business partner.
adjective
British English
- The co-owned flat presented some management challenges.
- A co-owned copyright requires careful agreement.
American English
- The co-owned property is listed as joint tenancy.
- They entered into a co-owned patent agreement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for shared ownership of companies, patents, or intellectual property.
Academic
Used in legal, economic, or property studies.
Everyday
Describes shared ownership of homes, vehicles, or other major assets.
Technical
Legal term for concurrent ownership.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “co-own”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “co-own”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “co-own”
- Using 'coown' without a hyphen (standard spelling requires hyphen).
- Confusing with 'co-manage' or 'co-operate'.
- Incorrect: 'I co-own a house to my brother.' Correct: 'I co-own a house with my brother.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is most commonly used in formal, legal, and business contexts. In everyday speech, 'own together' or 'jointly own' are more frequent.
In standard English, yes. The hyphen is used with the prefix 'co-' when followed by a vowel or a capital letter (like 'co-own', 'co-author').
Yes, you can co-own intangible assets like copyrights, patents, trademarks, and intellectual property.
'Co-own' specifically implies legal, formal ownership. 'Share' can mean to use something together without necessarily having legal title (e.g., 'share a flat').
To share ownership of something jointly with one or more other people.
Co-own: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊ ˈəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊ ˈoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Have a stake in”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CO-OWN: CO-operate to OWN.
Conceptual Metaphor
OWNERSHIP IS A SHARED BURDEN/RESOURCE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'co-own'?