: the legal right of using and enjoying the fruits or profits of something belonging to another
2
: the right to use or enjoy something
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Usufruct and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said, "The earth belongs in usufruct to the living." He apparently understood that when you hold something in usufruct, you gain something of significant value, but only temporarily. The gains granted by usufruct can be clearly seen in the Latin phrase from which the word developed, usus et fructus, which means "use and enjoyment." Latin speakers condensed that phrase to ususfructus, the term English speakers used as the model for our modern word. Usufruct has been used as a noun for the legal right to use something since the mid-1600s. Any right granted by usufruct ends at a specific point, usually the death of the individual who holds it.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe family wealth was entailed as long ago as the 17th century, and the reigning Prince as the head of the family has the sole usufruct. Lgt Bank Contributor, Forbes, 1 June 2022 The 4-1 vote means the Morgan County Board of Assessors ruled the rental agreement, known as a usufruct, does not make Rivian’s interest in the property taxable. J. Scott Trubey, ajc, 25 May 2022 Neither of the Parties in any form can hinder, by arbitrary and discriminatory means, the administration, operation, maintenance, use, usufruct, acquisition, expansion or divestiture of investments made by nationals or companies of the other Party.Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2018
Word History
Etymology
Latin ususfructus, from usus et fructus use and enjoyment