What does landlady mean?
A landlady is a woman who owns or manages property that is rented to other people. She may be the owner of a house or flat divided into flats, the proprietor of a boardinghouse or guesthouse, or more generally a female landlord. The word is still widely used in British and American English, although it has a somewhat traditional character and can suggest a personal relationship between the proprietor and tenants. In a boardinghouse especially, the landlady may do more than collect rent: she may provide meals, manage shared facilities, maintain the building, and set house rules. “Landlady” is the female counterpart of “landlord,” but it is not simply a modern gender-neutral term for any property owner; it explicitly identifies a woman. In ordinary conversation, its use can evoke the social and practical dynamics of renting, from negotiating repairs and deposits to dealing with a strict or attentive proprietor. The compound also reflects the older English pairing of land with lady, a history that helps explain why the word remains familiar even where “female landlord” would be a more formal description.
nounA woman who owns or manages property rented to tenants, especially a woman who runs a boardinghouse or other lodging accommodation.
- A woman who owns property and rents it to tenants.
- A woman who runs a boardinghouse, lodging house, or similar accommodation.
"Our landlady was always cheerful when we returned the rent on time."
"The landlady owns the flat upstairs and collects the tenants' rent."
"We asked the landlady whether we could keep a small dog in the boardinghouse."
The standard plural is landladies.
"Several landladies attended the meeting for renters."
A landlady is the female member of the familiar landlord–tenant trio, bringing the distinctly human touch of a landlord to the business of housing people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does landlady come from?
Landlady is an English compound formed from land and lady, both of which are inherited English words with Germanic roots. The compound developed during the early modern period to denote a woman who owned property and leased it to others, particularly in the role of a boardinghouse proprietor. It is a parallel formation with landlord, whose male sense is historically older and whose form follows the same land-based pattern.
How landlady is actually used
The term is neutral in modern use but is especially associated with a female owner or manager of rented accommodation. In British English, landlady is still common for the proprietor of a boardinghouse or guesthouse; landlord is more commonly used for the owner of a flat or house. The word can sound more traditional or personal than the more neutral property-owner.
Easily confused with landlady
A landlord is a person who rents property to tenants and may be male or female, whereas a landlady specifically refers to a female landlord.