WordValelien
a legal claim on property as security for a debt
In more detail
1. (noun) a legal right to keep or sell someone's property until they pay a debt owed to you
Examples
- The bank has a lien on the house until the mortgage is paid off.
How to use lien
A lien is a formal legal or financial term used in property and contract law to describe a creditor's right to retain or sell a debtor's property as security. It is used primarily in legal, financial, and real estate contexts and conveys a formal, binding claim rather than informal debt. The term is neutral in tone and appears frequently in contracts and legal documents.
Common phrases
- place a lien on
- file a lien
- lien on property
- mechanic's lien
- tax lien
- hold a lien
Synonyms
claim · encumbrance · charge · security interest · right of retention
Word family
lien (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse lien with lean (to incline) or loan (a borrowed sum of money); note the spelling 'lien' is specific to the legal right over property.
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