Word
lien
US/ˈɫin/
UK/lˈiːən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a legal right to keep someone else's property until they pay a debt they owe you.
n. a legal claim or right over the property of another as security for the payment of a debt or performance of an obligation.
Examples
“The bank has a lien on the house until the mortgage is paid.”
“The contractor filed a lien against the building to ensure he would be paid for the renovations he completed.”
“If the property owner fails to satisfy the outstanding debt, the holder of the lien may eventually seek a court order to sell the asset to recover the funds.”
Examples
simple
“The bank has a lien on the house until the mortgage is paid.”
contextual
“The contractor filed a lien against the building to ensure he would be paid for the renovations he completed.”
complex
“If the property owner fails to satisfy the outstanding debt, the holder of the lien may eventually seek a court order to sell the asset to recover the funds.”
Usage
Commonly used with the prepositions 'on' or 'against' regarding the property in question.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French lien, from Latin ligāmen (“a bond”), from ligō (“tie, bind”).
Borrowed from Latin liēn (“spleen”). Doublet of spleen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lien