Debtor

ˈdetər

nounIntermediate📊CommonFinance
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

A person or entity that owes a debt to another.

ˈdetər

nounneutralIntermediate
Finance

A person, organization, or country that owes money.

The debtor failed to make the scheduled payment.

💡 Simply: Imagine you borrowed money from your friend to buy a cool toy. You are the debtor because you owe your friend that money back.

👶 For kids: Someone who owes money is a debtor. Like if you borrow a toy from a friend and have to give it back later!

More Examples

2

The bank contacted the debtors regarding their outstanding balances.

3

Bankruptcy proceedings offer a way for debtors to seek relief from their financial obligations.

How It's Used

Finance

"The company informed its debtors about the restructuring of its debts."

Law

"The court summoned the debtor for failing to repay the loan."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

From Middle English dettour, borrowed from Anglo-French dettour, from Old French deteur, from Latin debitōrem, accusative of dēbitor (“one who owes”), from dēbeō (“I owe”).

The term has been used in legal and financial contexts for centuries, with its meaning consistently related to owing money or obligations.

Memory tip

Think of someone who is 'in debt' - they're the debtor.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"one who owes"

secured debtorunsecured debtorbusiness debtorindividual debtordefaulting debtor

Common misspellings

detordetter

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written