landlord

noun

land·​lord ˈland-ˌlȯrd 

1

: the owner of property (such as land, houses, or apartments) that is leased or rented to another

2

: the master of an inn or lodging house : innkeeper

Synonyms

• lessor
• letter
• renter

Examples of landlord in a Sentence

agreed to pay the landlord the rent on the first Monday of each month

a weekend workshop that is intended to disabuse would-be landlords of a bed-and breakfast that the job is one long vacation

Recent Examples on the Web

Some landlords are now sharply raising rent, even beyond what temporary price gouging protections allow. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025

The fact that landlords are not responsible for their tenants’ personal effects may lead some landlords to believe that the decision to purchase renters insurance is the tenant’s business. —Ryan Barone, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

But since Tuesday, some landlords and their agents have raised prices by more than what California law allows. —Danielle Kaye, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

But the landlord appealed to the California Supreme Court, which took up the case. —Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing landlord

• absentee landlord

Kids Definition

landlord

noun

land·​lord -ˌ(d)lȯ(ə)rd 

1

: the owner of land or houses that is rented to another

2

: a person who runs an inn or rooming house

Legal Definition

landlord

noun

land·​lord

: the owner of property (as houses, apartments, or land) that is leased or rented to another