sublease

American  

[suhb-lees, suhb-lees] / ˈsʌbˌlis, sʌbˈlis /

noun

1. a lease granted by one who is already a lessee of a property, as an apartment.

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verb (used with object)

subleased, subleasing

1. to grant a sublease of.

2. to take or hold a sublease of.

sublease British  

/ ˌsʌblɛˈsiː, ˌsʌblɛˈsɔː /

noun

1. a lease of property made by a person who is himself a lessee or tenant of that property

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verb

1. to grant a sublease of (property); sublet

2. (tr) to take, obtain, or hold by sublease

Other Word Forms

• sublessee
  noun
• sublessor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sublease

First recorded in 1820–30; sub- + lease ¹

Example Sentences

He was jailed for convictions including several peaceful protests and a fraud charge related to a sublease of his media company’s offices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

I moved into a little sublease on Fairfax, and my parents were super-worried about me.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

Petersen also has rescinded dozens of employment offers not tied to the company's core businesses and announced plans to sublease unused office space.

From Reuters • Sep. 12, 2023

Amazon soon made plans to sublease its excess warehouse space and sought to use its existing space better.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2023

If he could possibly sublease that ranch from Benson.

From The Desert Fiddler by Hamby, William H. (William Henry)

Related Words

• appoint
• bring in
• draft
• employ
• engage
• enlist
• lease
• obtain
• pick
• promise
• rent
• retain
• select