Which term describes a legally recognized right to use another person's land for a specified purpose?

The term that describes a legally recognized right to use another person's land for a specified purpose is an easement. An easement grants an individual or entity the ability to utilize a portion of another's property, typically for a defined purpose such as access, utility installation, or drainage. This right is linked to the land itself rather than the individual; thus, it remains in effect even if the property changes ownership.

In legal terms, easements can be classified as either affirmative or negative. An affirmative easement allows the holder to perform a specific action, like crossing the land, while a negative easement restricts the property owner from doing something that could impact the easement holder's use of the land.

On the other hand, encroachment refers to an unauthorized intrusion onto another person's property, which does not confer any legal rights. A license, while also allowing limited use of someone else's property, is more temporary and can be revoked at any time. Lastly, a lease grants the lessee exclusive possession of property for a specified period, differing from an easement which does not provide exclusive ownership rights but rather a limited and specific use of the property.