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