# lien

/ˈɫin/ (US) · /lˈiːən/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lien
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a legal right to keep someone else's property until they pay a debt they owe you.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the prepositions 'on' or 'against' regarding the property in question.

---

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.