leasehold
leasehold Lexical Profile
leasehold Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Held under or relating to a lease for a fixed period of years rather than owned outright.
"Before purchasing a leasehold apartment in London, buyers should carefully check the remaining length of the lease and the annual service charges."
• noun
The legal tenure or right to hold and occupy land or buildings under a lease for a specified period of time.
"Under the terms of the leasehold, the commercial tenant is responsible for all interior maintenance and annual ground rent."
A piece of land, building, or real property held by a tenant under a lease.
"The developer acquired several expiring residential leaseholds in the city center with plans to renovate the historic properties."
Word Nuance & Usage
In real estate law, 'leasehold' is directly contrasted with 'freehold': a leasehold grants temporary right of occupancy for a fixed term of years, whereas a freehold confers outright, indefinite ownership of both the building and the land it stands on.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 18th century as a compound of 'lease' (from Anglo-Norman 'les', meaning a letting of land) and 'hold' (from Old English 'gehald', referring to tenure or custody), modeled directly on earlier feudal terms such as 'copyhold' and 'freehold'.