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Landlady: meaning, definitions and examples

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landlady

 

[ ˈlændˌleɪdi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

housing arrangement

A landlady is a woman who rents out a room, apartment, or house to a tenant. She is responsible for managing the property and often takes care of maintenance issues and tenant relations. In many cases, the landlady may also have specific rules and guidelines that tenants are expected to follow. The term is most commonly used in residential contexts but can also apply to commercial rentals.

Synonyms

Landowner, landlord, property owner

Examples of usage

  • The landlady was very responsive to our requests.
  • We signed the lease with the new landlady last week.
  • My landlady provides all the utilities, which is a great convenience.

Word origin

The word 'landlady' dates back to the medieval period and is derived from the Old English term 'landhlafdige', which means the chief female of a certain piece of land. The prefix 'land' refers to a piece of real estate, while '-lady' indicates a woman of authority or ownership. Historically, the role of landlady was often associated with women who managed properties in their family's name, particularly during times when men were away for work or military service. The term became more widely used as urbanization increased in the 19th century, and women began taking on more independent roles in society, including property ownership and management. In modern contexts, while the gender-specific nature of the term may seem outdated, 'landlady' continues to be used in many English-speaking regions to refer specifically to women landlords.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,488, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.