noun
lien; right of retention
A legal right to retain possession of property until a debt or obligation is satisfied. Used in civil law contexts.
修理工場は修理代金の支払いを受けるまで、車に留置権を行使できる。
The repair shop can exercise a lien on the car until the repair fee is paid.
A right of retention is the right to retain an object until the claim is satisfied.
A pledge right where the creditor takes possession of the property as security and can sell it if the debt is not paid; 留置権 does not inherently include a power of sale.
Compound of 留置 (りゅうち, 'detention' or 'retention') and 権 (けん, 'right'). The term is a direct translation of the Western legal concept of a lien, adopted in the Meiji era.