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Definition of lair
lair
/lɛər/
lair
Plural:lairs
•Past Simple:laired
•Past Participle:laired
•Present Participle:lairing
lair Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
Syllables
1
lair Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A wild animal's resting place, especially one that is well hidden.
Example
"The tracking team followed the bear's deep footprints all the way back to its rocky lair."
2
A secret or private place where a person seeks concealment or seclusion, often used in the context of a villain's base of operations.
Example
"The agents finally located the supervillain's underground lair hidden deep beneath the city."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lair• verb
1
To rest or reside in a hidden den or resting place (typically used of a wild animal).
Example
"The mountain lions were known to lair in the limestone caves during the harshest weeks of winter."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lair Antonyms
View all antonyms for lair• Rhymes for lair
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'leger' meaning 'bed' or 'resting place,' sharing a Germanic root with the verb 'lie' (to recline).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lair. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lair