# tenant

/ˈtɛnənt/ (US) · /tˈɛnənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tenant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. renter of property

noun · CEFR B2

a person who pays money to a landlord to live in a house or use an office.

For teachers: an individual or entity that occupies land or property rented from a landlord under a lease agreement.

- The new tenant moved into the apartment on the first of the month.
- The lease agreement clearly outlines the responsibilities of the tenant regarding maintenance and the timely payment of utilities.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the property name.

### 2. software user group

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a customer or group that uses one part of a large software system shared by others.

For teachers: a group of users who share a single instance of a software application while keeping their data isolated from other groups.

- Each tenant in the cloud system has its own secure database.
- In a multi-tenant architecture, the application serves multiple customers from a single environment while ensuring strict data segregation between each tenant.

Usage: Commonly found in the context of 'SaaS' (Software as a Service) and cloud computing.

### 3. feudal land holder

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

someone in history who held land given to them by a lord or king.

For teachers: a person who held land under the feudal system in exchange for services or rent to a superior.

- The king granted the land to his loyal tenant in exchange for military service.
- Historical records indicate that the tenant-in-chief was responsible for providing knights to the crown during times of conflict.

### 4. to occupy as a renter

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to live in or use a property as a renter.

For teachers: to hold or occupy property as a tenant; to inhabit a space under a rental agreement.

- The building has been tenanted by the same family for three generations.
- The estate was largely tenanted by small-scale farmers who had worked the land since the previous century.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice ('is tenanted by').

## Examples

- The tenant pays the rent on the first of every month.
- After the previous tenant moved out, the landlord repainted the walls and replaced the old carpets before the new family arrived.
- Commercial lease agreements often stipulate that the tenant is responsible for internal repairs, while the property owner maintains the structural integrity of the building.

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