Tenant Definition and Legal Meaning On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Tenant , written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used. What is Tenant ? Someone who owns a property by the way of paying rent or leasing the property on the basis of an agreement between the leasor and leasee. Tenant - Meaning , Definition & English Examples A tenant is a person who rents or leases property, such as a house, apartment, or land, from a landlord. They pay rent for the right to live in or use the space. Tenant refers to someone who rents a place to live or conduct business. For example, if you rent an apartment, you are the tenant of that apartment. The word comes from the Old French word tenir, which means to hold. Tennant, however, is a common misspelling of tenant and has no meaning in English related to renting or leasing property. It’s also a last name, like David Tennant, the actor. Always use tenant when talking about someone who rents property. The meaning of TENANT is one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements of another; specifically : one who rents or leases a dwelling (such as a house) from a landlord. How to use tenant in a sentence. Tenets vs. Tenants