forbearance
Americannoun
-
the act of forbearing; a refraining from something.
- Synonyms:
- abstinence
-
forbearing conduct or quality; patient endurance; self-control.
Their teacher exhibited great forbearance when the children started acting up in class.
- Synonyms:
- indulgence, sufferance, toleration, tolerance
-
an abstaining from the enforcement of a right.
-
Finance. a form of repayment relief granted by a lender that temporarily postpones payments due from a borrower, while interest on the loan typically continues to accrue.
When he had difficulty making his monthly mortgage payments, the bank granted a forbearance, so he avoided foreclosure on his home.
noun
-
the act of forbearing
-
self-control; patience
-
law abstention from or postponement of the enforcement of a legal right, esp by a creditor allowing his debtor time to pay
Usage
What does forbearance mean in mortgages? Forbearance is a form of repayment relief granted by a lender that temporarily postpones payments due from a borrower, while interest on the loan typically continues to accrue. The terms of forbearance are negotiated between the borrower and the lender. For example, if an individual has difficulty making monthly mortgage payments, a forbearance agreement from the bank can avoid foreclosure on the person’s home.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forbearance
Explanation
When a teacher says, "Bear with me for a moment," while he writes on the board, he is asking for the class's forbearance. He wants them to wait patiently during the delay. Forbearance also has a more technical, legal meaning — if you are owed money and you give someone extra time to get it to you, you're showing them forbearance. The word has nothing to do with actual bears, but if you think of one slumbering through its winter hibernation, that might help remember its meaning.
Vocabulary lists containing forbearance
100 Top "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 12, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Forbearance temporarily suspends the obligation to make mortgage payments.
From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2022
Forbearance allowed borrowers to avoid making payments, but their debts kept accumulating interest and increasing their balances.
From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2022
Forbearance is a way to avoid foreclosure and may allow you to make partial payments or pause payments entirely for an agreed-upon period of time.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2021
Forbearance isn’t free,’ ” said Dick Lepre, senior loan officer at RPM Mortgage.
From Washington Post • Aug. 20, 2020
Mom did a talk on her thesis topic in college, “Patience and Forbearance as Markers of Resilience.”
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
