Is 'metayer' a common English word?

No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term from historical and agrarian contexts.

What's the difference between a metayer and a sharecropper?

They are largely synonymous, but 'metayer' specifically refers to the French version of the system and carries historical connotations.

How do you pronounce 'metayer' in British English?

In British English, it is typically pronounced /ˈmɛteɪeɪ/ (MET-ay-ay).

Can 'metayer' be used as a verb?

No, 'metayer' is exclusively a noun. The related system is called 'metayage'.

Is “metayer” formal?

Metayer is usually historical/legal/technical in register.

metayer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low

UK/ˈmɛteɪeɪ/US/ˌmɛtəˈjeɪ/

Historical/Legal/Technical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “metayer” mean?

A tenant farmer, especially in France, who pays a share of the produce (rather than money) as rent.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A tenant farmer, especially in France, who pays a share of the produce (rather than money) as rent.

A system of land tenure, also known as sharecropping, where the farmer pays a portion of the crop yield to the landowner as rent.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is recognized but rarely used in either variety. It is more likely to appear in historical or academic texts in both regions. No significant spelling or usage differences.

Connotations

Historical, agrarian, pre-industrial economic systems.

Frequency

Extremely low in everyday language. Slightly higher frequency in academic historical writing.

Grammar

How to Use “metayer” in a Sentence

[the] metayer [of the land]a metayer [system]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

metayer systemmetayer tenantFrench metayer

medium

metayer agreementwork as a metayer

weak

land of the metayerpoor metayer

Examples

Examples of “metayer” in a Sentence

verb

British English

[Not applicable as a verb]

American English

[Not applicable as a verb]

adverb

British English

[Not applicable as an adverb]

American English

[Not applicable as an adverb]

adjective

British English

The metayer system persisted in some regions.

American English

They lived under a metayer arrangement.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used in modern business. Historical reference to agricultural contracts.

Academic

Used in history, economics, or agrarian studies to describe pre-modern land tenure.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Used as a precise term in historical/legal descriptions of French agrarian systems.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “metayer”

Strong

cropper (in sharecropping context)

Neutral

sharecropper tenant farmer

Weak

leaseholder cultivatorhusbandman (archaic)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “metayer”

landowner freeholder proprietor

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “metayer”

Mispronouncing it as 'me-TAY-er' (American) or 'MET-ee-uh' (British).
Using it to refer to any farmer.
Spelling: 'metayer' vs. 'métayer' (with acute accent).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized term from historical and agrarian contexts.
: They are largely synonymous, but 'metayer' specifically refers to the French version of the system and carries historical connotations.
: In British English, it is typically pronounced /ˈmɛteɪeɪ/ (MET-ay-ay).
: No, 'metayer' is exclusively a noun. The related system is called 'metayage'.
: A tenant farmer, especially in France, who pays a share of the produce (rather than money) as rent.
: Metayer is usually historical/legal/technical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[none specific to this term]”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: METAYER pays with METAl? No, he pays with a MEASURE (a share) of the crop. MET-AYER.

Conceptual Metaphor

FARMING IS A CONTRACTUAL PARTNERSHIP (between labour and land).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Under the system, the farmer's rent was a fixed proportion of the crop.

Multiple Choice

A 'metayer' is most closely associated with which concept?