noun
Common
letting
LEH-tihng
Letting (noun) means the renting out of a property to a tenant, or the property itself. Example: “The agency handles lettings across the city centre.”
noun
1
The renting out of a property to a tenant, or the property itself.
"The agency handles lettings across the city centre."
"She found a lovely flat in the lettings section of the local paper."
"The lettings office on the high street is open until six."
How to use letting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe business or act of renting out property.
UK vs US
Common in British English property terms like "letting agent"; American English tends to say "rental" instead.
Common pairings
letting agent
holiday letting
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like letting.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- lettings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The agency handles _____ across the city centre.
Related words
Rhymes for letting
petting
setting
wetting
getting
betting
netting
vetting
abetting
fretting
upsetting
resetting
forgetting
See all rhymes for letting →
Frequently asked questions
What does “letting” mean?
The word “letting” means the renting out of a property to a tenant, or the property itself. In plain terms, the business or act of renting out property.
How do you pronounce “letting”?
“Letting” is pronounced LEH-tihng (/ˈlɛtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “letting” in a sentence?
Here is “letting” used in a sentence: “The agency handles lettings across the city centre.”
What part of speech is “letting”?
“Letting” is a noun.
Is “letting” a common word?
“Letting” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a letting and a rental?
They describe the same arrangement from slightly different angles and regions. "Letting" is chiefly British and refers to the act of renting out a property, or the property offered, from the landlord's point of view. "Rental" is more general and often takes the tenant's side, meaning the property rented or the payment made.
What is the difference between letting and leasing?
Both involve renting property, but letting usually refers to shorter or residential arrangements handled through a landlord or letting agent, common in the UK. Leasing tends to describe a longer, more formal contract, often for commercial premises, vehicles, or equipment, governed by a detailed lease agreement. The line between them is not always sharp.
What does 'buy-to-let' mean?
Buy-to-let describes buying a property specifically in order to rent it out to tenants rather than to live in it yourself. The owner becomes a landlord and earns rental income, often using a special buy-to-let mortgage. The term is common in the UK property market and is closely tied to the idea of letting.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include letting:
