lair

1 of 2

noun

ˈler 

1

dialectal British : a resting or sleeping place : bed

2

a

: the resting or living place of a wild animal : den

tracked the bear back to its lair

b

: a refuge or place for hiding

a villain's lair

lair

2 of 2

verb

laired; lairing; lairs

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland : to cause to sink in mire

intransitive verb

chiefly Scotland : wallow

Synonyms of lair

Noun

• hideout
• nest

Examples of lair in a Sentence

Noun

tracking the bear back to its lair

She runs the project from her private lair in the suburbs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two young women are trapped in the lair of the Mangittatuarjuk, the Gnawer of Rocks. —Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2025

In a few shocking cases, Madres were abducted and disappeared themselves, including the mother of Ana María Careaga (Careaga, who appears in the film, herself was abducted, brought to a secret lair and tortured by the agents of the military regime). —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2025

Down in his lair, Pennywise is sleeping, but apparently not too soundly — as soon as the meteor piece melts, his eyes pop open. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025

The actor suggested that as the season progresses, and his character is invading a secret Russian lair alongside co-worker Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), parts of their uniform would come off. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English leger; akin to Old High German legar bed, Old English licgan to lie — more at lie

Verb

Scots lair mire

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for lair

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

lair

noun

ˈla(ə)r, 

ˈle(ə)r

1

: the den or resting place of a wild animal

2

: refuge sense 1, hideaway