What does rent mean?
Rent is the regular payment made for the temporary use of property, including a home, apartment, room, shop, or other space. It may also refer to the right to occupy property under an arrangement with its owner, as in the phrase “rent-controlled.” As a verb, rent has two closely related uses: an owner rents out property by charging for its use, while a person or business rents property by obtaining that use in return for payment. The word is common in everyday speech as well as in leases, contracts, housing discussions, and economic reporting. Its meaning differs from lease: a lease is the legal agreement itself, whereas rent is the payment made under the agreement. Rent is also associated with housing costs and, in political and economic contexts, with issues such as rent increases, rent control, and rent arrears.
A regular payment made for the temporary use of property or for the right to occupy it.
"The rent is due on the first day of every month."
Often used with payments, increases, arrears, housing, and agreements concerning property.
To charge a regular payment for the use of property, or to occupy property in return for such a payment.
"They rent a two-bedroom apartment close to the station."
The word can describe the owner's action of charging for property and the user's action of obtaining property for payment.
The plural is used for separate payments, rental amounts, or rental properties considered individually.
"Rents in the district have risen sharply over the past year."
Rent comes from the same Latin root as “redder,” meaning “to give back,” reflecting the idea of property being returned to its owner at the end of the rental period.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rent come from?
The English noun comes through Middle English from Old French rente, ultimately from Latin redditum, a form related to reddere, meaning “to give back” or “return.” The verb entered Middle English through Old French renter and has long been used both for charging rent and for taking property in exchange for payment. The root also underlies related English forms such as renter, rental, rentable, and rentier.
Related word forms
How rent is actually used
The noun is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. As a verb, rent can describe both the owner's charging for property and the tenant's paying to use it.
Easily confused with rent
A lease is the legal agreement granting the right to use property, whereas rent is the payment made under that agreement.