tenant
TEH-nuhnt
/ˈtenənt/
A person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.
Emphasizes the legal status and responsibilities of the occupant under a lease agreement.
The story behind the word. From the Old French present participle of 'tenir' (to hold), which comes from Latin 'tenere'. A tenant is literally 'the one holding' the land or property under certain conditions.
Word relationships
- occupant: Occupant simply means someone inside a space, whereas tenant specifically implies a legal rental relationship.
- renter: Renter is more casual, while tenant is the preferred term in legal and professional contexts.
- landlord: The owner of the property who rents it out to the tenant.
- owner: The person who holds the title to the property outright.
Commonly confused with
- tenet: A tenet is a principle or belief, while a tenant is a person who rents property.
Word family
- tenancy (noun): The possession or occupancy of land or property as a tenant.
Collocations
- prospective tenant
- tenant rights
- sitting tenant
- tenant association
Example sentences
- "The tenant is responsible for keeping the interior of the property clean and in good repair." Tenant rights
- "The landlord and the tenant agreed to resolve their dispute through mediation." Landlord-tenant dispute
Memory hook
A 'tenant' is someone who 'holds' (tenere) the keys to an apartment. The tenant holds the rental.
When not to use
Do not use for hotel guests or short-term visitors who do not have a lease.
Fun facts
- In feudal times, tenants did not pay cash rent; instead, they held land in exchange for military service or agricultural labor.
Explore more words
tenure, easement, lend, delegate, gentrification, occupation
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