noun
Uncommon
lien
leen
Lien (noun) means a legal right to hold or sell someone's property until a debt owed on it is paid off. Example: “The contractor placed a lien on the house after the owner missed payments.”
noun
1
A legal right to hold or sell someone's property until a debt owed on it is paid off.
"In fact, an 1847 state medical convention in Alambama issued a recommendation that doctors caring for slaves seek liens upon the human chattel if their bills were not paid."
— Harriet A. Washington, Southern Discomfort (2008)
"The contractor placed a lien on the house after the owner missed payments."
"Buyers should always check for an existing lien before purchasing a used car."
"Bodin deemed the king of France's power as absolute in the sense that the ruler was ‘absolved’ by divine sanction from legally binding liens and restrictions."
— Colin Jones, The Great Nation (2002)
How to use lien
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA legal claim on property that lets a creditor get paid before the owner can freely sell it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "lean" (to tilt) or "lean" (not fat) — all sound alike but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
place a lien
lien on the property
release a lien
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Word forms
- Plural
- liens, lienes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The contractor placed a _____ on the house after the owner missed payments.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French lien ("bond, tie"), from Latin ligare, "to bind" — the same root as ligament.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for lien
See all rhymes for lien →Frequently asked questions
What does “lien” mean?
The word “lien” means a legal right to hold or sell someone's property until a debt owed on it is paid off. In plain terms, a legal claim on property that lets a creditor get paid before the owner can freely sell it.
How do you pronounce “lien”?
“Lien” is pronounced leen (/liːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “lien” in a sentence?
Here is “lien” used in a sentence: “The contractor placed a lien on the house after the owner missed payments.”
What part of speech is “lien”?
“Lien” is a noun.
Where does the word “lien” come from?
The word “lien” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Middle French lien ("bond, tie"), from Latin ligare, "to bind" — the same root as ligament.
Is “lien” a common word?
“Lien” is an uncommon word in modern English.
