security deposit

noun

: an amount of money that a renter pays when beginning to rent property (such as an apartment) and that can be used to pay for any damage that the renter causes to the property

Examples of security deposit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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First month’s rent, last month’s rent and a security deposit are thousands of dollars upfront. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 Under a 2023 law, Connecticut landlords and property owners cannot charge a tenant more than $50 for a tenant screening report or charge a tenant any special fees beyond a security deposit, first months rent, and any charges for keys or special equipment. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 Most tenants seem to just expect the landlord to keep the security deposit, honestly. Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025 The top concerns include security deposit issues, lack of communication and maintenance negligence. Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for security deposit

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Cite this Entry

“Security deposit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/security%20deposit. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

security deposit

noun
: money provided by a tenant to a landlord to secure performance of a rental agreement or compensate for possible loss or damage
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