Meaning & use

lien

noun·Advanced

A legal right to keep possession of or claim property until a debt owed by its owner is paid.

See it in a sentence

The contractor placed a lien on the house after the owner failed to pay for the renovation.

Before buying the car, she checked whether there was a lien against it.

A note on using this word

A lien must generally be resolved before the property can be sold with clear title.

Words with a similar meaning

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