What does lodged mean?
“Lodged” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “lodge,” with meanings that range from staying temporarily in a place to formally submitting a document or complaint. A person may lodge in a hotel, a student may be lodged in a university residence, or an applicant may lodge an application with an institution. The verb can also refer to depositing money in an account and, when used intransitively, to becoming fixed or stuck in a place. In everyday legal, administrative, and business English, “lodge a complaint” is especially common. Although several senses of the word may appear unrelated, they share the basic idea of placing, staying, or formally presenting something for attention. The word is consequently useful in describing both physical accommodation and the formal submission of requests, objections, complaints, and evidence.
verbPast tense and past participle of lodge. It can mean to stay in a place, to make a formal complaint or request, to deposit money in an account, or to become fixed or stuck somewhere.
- To reside or stay for a period of time, especially as a guest, student, or official.
- To make a formal complaint, application, request, or objection.
- To deposit or place money or valuables in an account or institution.
- To become fixed, lodged, or stuck in a place.
- To be officially assigned to or provided with accommodation.
"The tenant lodged a complaint with the landlord after the heating system failed."
"The ambassador lodged in a hotel near the embassy during the conference."
"She lodged an application for the scholarship and received a response the following week."
One word can mean both staying somewhere and formally presenting a complaint: a person can lodge with a host, then lodge a complaint with the authorities.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Related word forms
How lodged is actually used
The form is both the past tense and past participle of lodge. Its sense of formally submitting something is common in formal and administrative contexts, while the accommodation sense is especially associated with official residences, universities, hotels, and temporary lodging.
Easily confused with lodged
“Lodged” means to stay, formally submit, deposit, or become stuck, whereas “logged” usually means recorded in a log or system.