Landlady

/ˈlændˌleɪdi/ noun

Definition

a woman who rents out property or runs a boarding house

Etymology

From 'land' + 'lady', compound formed in Middle English

Kelly Says

The landlady holds the keys to your castle... and your security deposit!

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Gendered noun marking women as property owners via diminutive/domestic suffix, contrast with gender-neutral 'landlord' (used for all). Historical pattern of feminizing roles to diminish authority.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'landlord' or 'property owner' for any gender, or specify gender only when relevant to context.

Inclusive Alternatives

["landlord","property owner","lessor","leaseholder"]

Empowerment Note

Women have owned and managed property independently for centuries; neutral language reflects this reality without default male authority.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.