Noun

1. A person to whom a landlord grants temporary and exclusive use of land or a part of a building, usually in exchange for rent. The contract for this type of legal arrangement is called a lease. The word "tenant" originated under the feudal system, referring to land "owners" who held their land on tenure granted by a lord.

Related terms

• landlord
• tenancy
• lease
• lessee
• eviction

Etymology

First attested 1325, from Anglo-Norman tenaunt, from Old French tenant, present participle of tenir (to hold), from Latin ten"re, present active infinitive of tene (hold, keep).

Pronunciation

• (Canada, UK) IPA: /t.nnt/
• enPR: tnnt

Noun

tenant (plural tenants)

1. One who pays a fee (rent) in return for the use of land, buildings, or other property owned by others.
2. An occupant.
3. (law) One who holds a property by any kind of right, including ownership.

Synonyms

• lessee

Verb

tenant (third-person singular simple present tenants, present participle tenanting, simple past and past participle tenanted)

1. To hold as, or be, a tenant.

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