1. a legal right or claim upon property as security for a debt or obligation
Usage: legal; primarily Scottish and civil law

Examples

• The bank held a hypothec over the farmer’s land until the loan was repaid.
• Under Scottish law, a hypothec can be created without transferring possession of the property.
• The landlord’s hypothec secured payment of the tenant’s rent.
• Maritime law recognizes a hypothec on ships for unpaid wages.
• The creditor registered a hypothec to protect their financial interest.
• Civil law systems commonly use hypothecs as security instruments.