What does the term "eminent domain" refer to?

The term "eminent domain" refers specifically to the government's right to take private property for public use, provided that the owner is compensated fairly for the property. This principle is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation. This ensures that while the government can acquire land for infrastructure, schools, parks, or other public projects, property owners are not left without recompense.

Understanding this definition is crucial because it highlights the balance between the needs of the community and the rights of individual property owners. The other choices do not align with this definition—one pertains to eviction, another concerns property sale restrictions, and another mentions lost property claims—none of which relate to the public use concept inherent in eminent domain.