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 byin ).

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,  to dwell

Other Word Forms

• tenantable adjective
• tenantless adjective
• tenantlike adjective
• nontenant noun
• nontenantable adjective
• untenantable adjective
• untenanted adjective
• tenant-like 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

They are also charging their existing tenants more nationwide to offset falling rents for new move-ins.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

If my own men are not around, I am not above texting my tenant and asking him to open it for me.

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The move prompted some French brands to announce they would leave BHV Marais, but the department store had already been losing tenants over late payments.

Read more on Barron's

The company is unlikely to earn tenant revenue before 2027, and those revenues will build up gradually over time.

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The declaration would also allow the county to expedite hiring for roles that assist tenants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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