Debtor Meaning and Definition
Debtor
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛbtər/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A person or organization that owes money or has a financial obligation to another person or organization.
Examples
- The bank wrote off the debtor’s loan as uncollectible.
- The company filed for bankruptcy and listed the debtor’s account as settled.
Synonyms
- Defaulter
- Creditor
Antonyms
- Creditor
- Payor
Etymology
The word “Debtor” comes from the Old French “detour”, meaning “to receive”, which is derived from the Latin ” debeo”, meaning “I owe”.
Usage Notes
Debtor is often used in financial and legal contexts, and it’s essential to distinguish it from other related terms, such as creditor and bailiff.
Cultural References
In popular culture, the term debtor has been referenced in various forms of media, including films, literature, and music.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“In debt up to one’s eyeballs” is an idiomatic phrase that means being heavily indebted.
Related Words or Phrases
Other related words or phrases include creditor, debt, indebted, bankrupt, and financial obligation.
Collocations
Debtor is often collocated with words like “bank”, “finance”, “credit”, and “loan”.
Frequency of Use
Debtor is a relatively infrequent term in modern language, but it’s essential in financial and legal contexts.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of debtor include “debiter”, “debuter”, and “debutant”.