compulsory purchasenoun [ C or U ]
ukusUK also compulsory acquisition, US eminent domainLAW, PROPERTY a situation in which a government has the legal power to buy private property at a fair price when it will be used for something that will be of use to the public, for example a new road:
The council has already indicated that it is prepared to recommend compulsory purchase of any property necessary for construction of the new stadium.