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easement

EEZ-munt /ˈiːz.mənt/

nounC2GRE

FormalLegal

A legal right allowing a non-owner to use or cross a specific portion of another person's real property for a designated purpose.

Grants restricted access rights (e.g., utility repairs, shared driveways) without transferring underlying land ownership.

The story behind the word. From Old French 'aise' (comfort, facility). In English common law, an easement was created to give a neighbor the 'ease' or convenience of passing through nearby private land without committing trespass.

Word relationships

right-of-way: Right-of-way specifically refers to legal permission to pass through land, whereas easement can include utility access or air rights.

exclusive occupancy: Exclusive occupancy prohibits outsiders from entry, whereas an easement permits specified outside usage.

Commonly confused with

encumbrance: Easement is a specific type of encumbrance that grants usage rights, whereas encumbrances also include financial claims like liens.

Word family

ease (verb): To make physical movement or legal burden less difficult.

Collocations

utility easement
drainage easement
easement by necessity
grant an easement
prescriptive easement

Example sentences

"A utility easement grants service providers legal access across private land to maintain power lines and water pipes." Property Law
"The court granted the landlocked neighbor an easement by necessity to build an access driveway to the main road." Civil Engineering

Memory hook

It gives your neighbor EASE to walk across your property. Legal permission to pass through private property.

When not to use

Do not use when referring to full land ownership transfer or unrestricted tenant lease agreements.

Fun facts

Conservation easements are used by farmland owners to prohibit future commercial construction while retaining agricultural land.