tenant

[ ten-uhnt ]

noun

1. a person or group that rents and occupies land, a house, an office, or the like, from another for a period of time; lessee.
2. Law. a person who holds or possesses for a time lands, tenements, or personalty of another, usually for rent.
3. an occupant or inhabitant of any place.

verb (used with object)

1. to hold or occupy as a tenant; dwell in; inhabit.

verb (used without object)

1. to dwell or live (usually followed by in ).

tenant

/ ˈtɛnənt /

noun

1. a person who holds, occupies, or possesses land or property by any kind of right or title, esp from a landlord under a lease
2. a person who has the use of a house, flat, etc, subject to the payment of rent
3. any holder or occupant

verb

1. tr to hold (land or property) as a tenant
2. rare.
   intrfoll byin to dwell

Derived Forms

• ˈtenant-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈtenantable, adjective
• ˈtenantless, adjective

Other Words From

• tenant·a·ble adjective
• tenant·less adjective
• tenant·like adjective
• non·tenant noun
• non·tenant·a·ble adjective
• un·tenant·a·ble adjective
• un·tenant·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenant¹

1250–1300; Middle English tena ( u ) nt < Anglo-French; Middle French tenant, noun use of present participle of tenir to hold ≪ Latin tenēre. See -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenant¹

C14: from Old French, literally: (one who is) holding, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre

Example Sentences

A tenant rights attorney and political novice, Jurado also overcame a self-inflicted wound after being caught on a recording saying “F— the police.”

From Los Angeles Times

That fact has raised concerns among a coalition of tenant and housing advocates who want the city to shift course to reduce displacement.

From Los Angeles Times

The planning department said it didn’t have an estimate of how many apartments might be knocked down because of its proposals, but said the added tenant protections would add costs for developers and limit the number of existing rentals demolished.

From Los Angeles Times

Because the city is proposing to allow developers to build more where existing apartments are, but also imposing additional costs through new tenant protections and replacement requirements, the planning department said it’s unclear whether more rent-controlled units would be demolished in the future than are today.

From Los Angeles Times

Landlords can also set the rent wherever they want each time a tenant moves out.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dweller
• holder
• inhabitant
• occupant
• renter
• resident