¹rent

noun \ˈrent\

Definition of RENT

: property (as a house) rented or for rent

a : a usually fixed periodical return made by a tenant or occupant of property to the owner for the possession and use thereof; especially : an agreed sum paid at fixed intervals by a tenant to the landlord

b : the amount paid by a hirer of personal property to the owner for the use thereof

a : the portion of the income of an economy (as of a nation) attributable to land as a factor of production in addition to capital and labor

b : economic rent

— for rent

: available for use or service in return for payment

Origin of RENT

Middle English rente, from Anglo-French, payment, income, from Vulgar Latin *rendita, from feminine of *renditus, past participle of *rendere to yield — more at render

First Known Use: 12th century

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

Rhymes with RENT

bent, Brent, cent, dent, gent, Ghent, hent, Lent, pent, scent, sent, spent, sprent, stent, tent, Trent, vent

²rent

verb

: to pay money in return for being able to use (something that belongs to someone else)

: to allow someone to use (something) in return for payment

: to be available for use in return for payment : to be for rent

Full Definition of RENT

transitive verb

: to grant the possession and enjoyment of in exchange for rent

: to take and hold under an agreement to pay rent

intransitive verb

: to be for rent

a : to obtain the possession and use of a place or article in exchange for rent

b : to allow the possession and use of property in exchange for rent

— rent·abil·i·ty \ˌren-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— rent·able \ˈren-tə-bəl\ adjective

See rent defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of RENT

15th century

Related to RENT

Synonyms: lease, let [chiefly British]

Synonym Discussion of RENT

hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use <we hired a car for the summer> <decided to let the cottage to a young couple>. lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease <the diplomat leased an apartment for a year>. rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting <instead of buying a house, they decided to rent> <will not rent to families with children>. charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use <charter a bus to go to the game>.