rentier

noun

ren·​tier räⁿ-ˈtyā How to pronounce rentier (audio)
: a person who lives on income from property or securities

Examples of rentier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Iran, by contrast, has a rentier economy more akin to that of Russia. — Karim Sadjadpour, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2025 Is the result a concentration of even more assets — whether stocks, bonds, real estate or other choices — in the hands of wealthier people, building a greater rentier dynamic? — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Alfred, a geographer, photographer, and sportsman, came from a wealthy rentier Geneva family. — Percy Zvomuya, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024 Having secured both monopolies and monopsonies, tech companies behave more like rapacious rentiers than proper capitalists. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 Having secured both monopolies and monopsonies, tech companies behave more like rapacious rentiers than proper capitalists. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, from rente

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rentier was in 1798

Rhymes for rentier

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Browse Nearby Words

renter
rentier
rent insurance
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Cite this Entry

“Rentier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rentier. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

rentier

noun
ren·​tier rän-ˈtyā, ˈrän-ˌtyā How to pronounce rentier (audio)
: a person who lives on income from property or securities
Etymology

French, from rente income from a property, rent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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