The concept of ownership in which an owner of property has the right to keep it whether or not it is being used or actively possessed. For instance, an individual may own several houses or land and never use them. In addition, the owner has the right to pass the property on to descendents or to others chosen by the owner. In fact, ownership is not always absolute in large-scale societies today. In the united states, for instance, ownership may be forfeited to the government under certain circumstances (e. G. , eminent domain, failure to pay taxes, or use in the commission of a felony). See usufruct.