lien
LEEN
/liːn/
A right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.
A specific legal claim or encumbrance on an asset (like a house or car) that prevents it from being sold until the debt is cleared.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'ligare,' meaning to bind or tie. It entered English through Old French as a term for a physical bond or tie, eventually evolving into a legal bond that ties a debt to a piece of property.
Word relationships
- encumbrance: Encumbrance is a broader legal term for any claim or liability on a property, while a lien is a specific right to retain property.
- charge: A charge is a general financial claim, whereas a lien is a specific right of possession or sale.
- release: The formal removal of a legal claim or lien from a property.
Commonly confused with
- lean: Lean means to incline or bend, while lien is a legal claim on property.
Word family
- lienable (adjective): Subject to a lien.
Collocations
- place a lien
- tax lien
- release a lien
- satisfy a lien
Example sentences
- "The contractor placed a mechanic's lien on the house when the homeowner refused to pay for the new roof." A dispute over home renovations.
- "You cannot sell the vehicle because the bank still holds a lien on the title." A car sale transaction.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Lien' as a legal rope that 'lines' up and 'binds' your property to the bank. A lien binds your property like a line of rope.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a physical barrier or a simple promise; it is a formal, legal claim filed with a government authority.
Fun facts
- In maritime law, a 'maritime lien' is unique because it attaches to the ship itself, as if the ship were a person responsible for its own debts.
Related words
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