lien

[liːn]

lien Definition

a legal claim on assets which are used as collateral to secure a debt.

Using lien: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "lien" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The bank has a lien on the property until the mortgage is paid off.

• Example

  The contractor filed a lien against the homeowner's property for unpaid work.

• Example

  The car was repossessed due to a lien on the title.

lien Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for lien

• charge
• claim
• encumbrance
• hypothecation
• mortgage

Phrases with lien

• mechanic's lien

  a legal claim placed on a property by a contractor or supplier who has not been paid for work done on it

  Example

  The mechanic's lien prevented the sale of the property until the contractor was paid.

• judgment lien

  a court-ordered lien placed on a debtor's property to secure payment of a judgment

  Example

  The judgment lien was placed on the debtor's house to ensure payment of the debt.

• tax lien

  a lien imposed by law upon a property to secure the payment of taxes

  Example

  The tax lien prevented the sale of the property until the back taxes were paid.

Origins of lien

from Old French 'lien', meaning 'bond'

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Summary: lien in Brief

'Lien' [liːn] refers to a legal claim on assets that are used as collateral to secure a debt. It is often used in the context of mortgages, unpaid work, and repossessions, as in 'The bank has a lien on the property until the mortgage is paid off.' 'Lien' extends into phrases like 'mechanic's lien,' 'judgment lien,' and 'tax lien,' denoting specific types of legal claims.