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liquidation

American  
[lik-wi-dey-shuhn] / ˌlɪk wɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the process of realizing upon assets and of discharging liabilities in concluding the affairs of a business, estate, etc.

  2. the process of converting securities or commodities into cash.

  3. the state of being liquidated.

    an estate in liquidation.


liquidation British  
/ ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

    1. the process of terminating the affairs of a business firm, etc, by realizing its assets to discharge its liabilities

    2. the state of a business firm, etc, having its affairs so terminated (esp in the phrase to go into liquidation )

  1. destruction; elimination

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

liquidation Cultural  
  1. The conversion of the assets of a firm into cash, often just before the firm goes out of business.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of liquidation

First recorded in 1565–75; liquidate + -ion

Vocabulary lists containing liquidation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They stayed there for 32 years but when the company went into liquidation they changed careers together, retraining as postmen, a job they did for more than 17 years, working adjacent areas.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

The IPO is typically a liquidation event for the benefit of founders, early investors and other insiders.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

Due to the fact that they mostly run on crypto rails, a perpetual futures positions faces instant liquidation when margin requirements are violated.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

Are any of the CDs close to maturity, making liquidation unnecessary?

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

On our way there, we learned that the underground resistance of the camp had made the decision not to abandon the Jews and to prevent their liquidation.

From "Night" by Elie Wiesel

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