Word
landlord
Phoneticsland·lord, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫændˌɫɔɹd/
UK/lˈændlɔːd/
Definitions
01property owner
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. a person or company that you rent a room, house, or office from.
n. the owner of real property who leases it to a tenant in exchange for rent.
“The landlord fixed the broken heater two days after we called him.”
“The landlord is legally obligated to ensure that the property meets all safety standards before the new tenants move in.”
Usage
The feminine form 'landlady' is still common, though 'landlord' is increasingly used as a gender-neutral term in legal contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02pub manager
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. the person who owns or manages a pub.
n. the proprietor or manager of a public house.
“The landlord of the local pub knows all the regulars by name.”
“After the football match, the landlord struggled to serve the sudden influx of thirsty supporters crowding the bar.”
Teaching tip
This is a very common term in the UK for the person behind the bar who runs the establishment.
Synonyms
03a shark
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · Humorous
n. a humorous or scary name for a shark in the ocean.
n. a metaphorical reference to a shark, personifying it as the owner of the water.
“The surfers got out of the water quickly when they thought they saw the landlord.”
“Local surfers often use the term 'the landlord' to refer to the great white sharks that frequent the bay during the summer months.”
Usage
Usually used with the definite article as 'the landlord'.
Teaching tip
This is niche surfing slang; learners will rarely encounter it outside of coastal communities or specific subcultures.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “landlord” in context.
Verb
01. evict the landlord
“The bank moved to evict the landlord after he defaulted on the mortgage payments for the entire apartment block.”
verb + noun
02. sue the landlord for negligence
“The tenants decided to sue the landlord for negligence after the ceiling collapsed due to a long-ignored leak.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
03. absentee landlord
“Living in a building managed by an absentee landlord can be frustrating when urgent repairs are needed.”
adj + noun
04. unscrupulous landlord
“The city council is cracking down on every unscrupulous landlord who exploits vulnerable tenants.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. landlord-tenant dispute
“The local housing tribunal specializes in resolving any complex landlord-tenant dispute regarding rent increases.”
noun + noun
06. responsibilities of the landlord
“The contract clearly outlines the maintenance responsibilities of the landlord.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“It’s a gross failure of one of the most fundamental duties a landlord owes to their tenants – especially during record-breaking heatwaves .” “On the few occasions when Trading Standards can shut a business permanently, it's generally by working with landlords, who evict tenants.” Etymology
From Middle English londlord, landlorde, from Old English landhlāford, equivalent to land + lord. Cognate with Scots landlaird, Middle Low German lantlord (“homeowner, landlord”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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