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

• proprietor
• 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

The Maryland Supreme Court opinion concluded that more analysis will be needed to decide if the landlord’s minimum-income rule disproportionately (and illegally) hurts voucher holders under the state’s Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act. —Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Newsweek covered a post detailing a young tenant's dispute with their landlord over a security-deposit deduction that went viral on Reddit. —Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

The landlord was the university, so the couple applied for the lease, vowing to open a lunch counter, support local farmers, employ students, and change up the menu weekly. —Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2025

Arlin told reporters that the landlord still charges an activities fee even though the pool has been closed on and off for three years. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing landlord

• absentee landlord

Rhymes for landlord

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

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