这些术语均与财产的征用相关。eminent domain为“国家征用权”，在美国，多指州、市政府或经授权行使公职的个人或法人拥有的征用私人财产，尤指土地的权力[1]，征用之财产应用于公共目，对征用财产应作合理补偿。condemnation和expropriation 都为“征用”，是指对eminent domain这种权利的实施程序；但在路易斯安那州，expropriation的含义则等同eminent domain[2] 。
 
[1] "A government's right to take private property for public purposes，a doctrine which is American in origin. ”Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 329，Thomson Professional Publishing Canada (1991).
[2] "A taking, as of privately owned property, hy government under eminent domain. This term is also used in the context of a foreign government taking an American industry located in the foreign country. In Louisiana, the word has the same general meaning as eminent domain. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 403, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).