debtor

American  

[det-er] / ˈdɛt ər /

noun

1. a person who is in debt or under financial obligation to another (creditor ).

---

debtor British  

/ ˈdɛtə /

noun

1. a person or commercial enterprise that owes a financial obligation Compare creditor

---

Other Word Forms

• nondebtor noun
• predebtor noun

Etymology

Origin of debtor

1250–1300; Middle English detto ( u ) r < Anglo-French dett ( o ) ur, de ( b ) tour, Old French det ( t ) or < Latin dēbitōr-, stem of dēbitor, equivalent to dēbi-, variant stem of dēbēre ( debt ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Speculator William Duer, a friend of Alexander Hamilton, had borrowed too much money and was about to be thrown into debtors’ prison.

From The Wall Street Journal

At one point I filed for bankruptcy, but that doesn’t mean you’re broke — you’re just closing a company down and letting the debtors go after that.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of these debtors don’t know who to contact to make payments, or may believe that the loan servicer trying to contact them demanding payment, which they have never heard of, is a scam.

From Barron's

Ray Dalio: A weak currency and low interest rates are good for borrowers and debtors and stimulative to markets and economies.

From Barron's

Ray Dalio: A weak currency and low interest rates are good for borrowers and debtors and stimulative to markets and economies.

From Barron's

Related Words

• borrower
• defaulter