Tenant

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈtÉ›.nÉ™nt/, enPR: tÄ•nÉ™nt
• Rhymes: -É›nÉ™nt

Alternative forms

• tenaunt obsolete
• tennant obsolete
• tennaunt obsolete

Origin

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

Noun

1. One who pays a fee (rent) in return for the use of land, buildings, or other property owned by others.
• w:Arthur Morrison, w, Long even before the last tenant had occupied it, the room had been regarded with fear and aversion, and the end of that last tenant had in no way lightened the gloom that hung about the place.
2. One who has possession of any place; a dweller; an occupant.
• Cowpersweet tenants of this grove
• Cowleythe happy tenant of your shade
• Byronthe sister tenants of the middle deep
3. (legal) One who holds a property by any kind of right, including ownership.

Synonyms

• lessee
• renter
• rentee

Derived terms

• tenancy
• tenantless
• tenantry

Related terms

• tenure‎
• tenement

Full definition of tenant

Verb

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