1. a system in which land is owned by landlords and rented to tenants
2. the practices, attitudes, or interests of landlords as a class
Usage: often critical

Examples

• The region’s economy was dominated by landlordism for centuries.
• Critics argued that landlordism prevented many families from owning their own homes.
• The government introduced reforms to reduce the influence of landlordism.
• Landlordism created a sharp divide between property owners and tenants.
• The historian studied the effects of landlordism on rural communities.
• Many activists called for an end to traditional landlordism.