What is the term for the power of a government to take private property for public use?

The correct term for the power of a government to take private property for public use is eminent domain. This legal principle allows the government to acquire private property, typically with compensation to the property owner, for purposes deemed beneficial to the public, such as building roads, schools, or other infrastructure projects. The exercise of eminent domain is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation.

In contrast, easement refers to a limited right to use someone else's property for a specific purpose. Adverse possession involves a method of acquiring title to property through continuous and public use over a statutory period, while tenancy in common describes a form of shared ownership of property where each owner has an undivided interest in the property. These terms represent different legal concepts unrelated to the government's authority over private property under eminent domain.