eminent domain
noun /ˌemɪnənt dəˈmeɪn/, /ˌemɪnənt dəʊˈmeɪn/
/ˌemɪnənt dəʊˈmeɪn/
[uncountable] (especially North American English, law- the right to force somebody to sell land or a building if it is needed by the government
（对私有财产的）国家征用权 CultureThe Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution states that ' just compensation' (= fair payment) must be given to the owner when this happens. Eminent domain is used, for example, when houses must be destroyed to build a new major road.