# laird

/ˈɫɛɹd/ (US) · /lˈeəd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/laird
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who owns a large area of land in Scotland. It is a traditional title for someone with a big country estate.

For teachers: a person who holds a landed estate in Scotland. The title is traditionally associated with the ownership of a significant rural property and carries certain social status within the local community.

## Examples

- The laird lives in a large stone house on the hill.
- The local laird allowed the villagers to use the private path through his forest for the annual festival.
- While the modern legal powers of a laird have diminished, many still play a central role in the conservation and economic management of the Scottish Highlands.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is the lord of the land" but "He is the laird of the estate" — While similar to 'lord', 'laird' is a specific Scottish term for a landowner and is not a title of nobility in the peerage.

## Usage notes

- Primarily used in a Scottish context; often followed by 'of' and the name of the estate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.