What is the legal term for the right to take private property for public use, provided compensation is given?

The legal term for the right to take private property for public use, provided compensation is given, is known as eminent domain. This principle allows governmental entities to acquire private property to serve a public purpose, such as building roads, schools, or parks, as long as the owner receives just compensation for the property taken. This process ensures that individual property rights are balanced with the needs of society as a whole, allowing for the development and improvement of public infrastructure.

In contrast, other terms like escheat refer to the reversion of property to the state when an owner dies without heirs or a will, while adverse possession involves a person gaining legal title to land under certain conditions after occupying it without permission. Quiet title refers to a legal action to settle disputes about property ownership. Each of these terms emphasizes different aspects of property law but does not relate to the government's ability to take property for public use.