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Showing results for security deposit. Search instead for short deposit.
Synonyms

security deposit

American  
[si-kyoor-i-tee-di-pahz-it] / sɪˈkyʊər ɪ ti dɪˌpɑz ɪt /

noun

  1. a deposit or sum of money paid in advance to an owner when renting something, usually refundable and meant to cover the owner's costs in case of damages.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They require a security deposit that is usually equal to the credit limit, but they are easier to obtain for people with no or poor credit.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 18, 2025

"There are one-time costs such as the security deposit, application fees and potential broker fees. Moving expenses can be surprisingly high — even if you're moving only a short distance."

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025

According to the attorney general, Arnel charged for unneeded cleaning and repairs and treated part of its tenant’s security deposit as nonrefundable no matter the condition of the apartment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

She’d saved enough to cover a security deposit and the first and last month’s rent for an apartment for her and her daughter.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2023

And when he left Freebie alone in the car for two seconds, the dog chewed the steering wheel, thus ensuring they weren’t getting their security deposit back.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.