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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.

Appeared in the May 19, 2026, print edition as 'Jones’s Bid to Shield Infowars From Liquidation Blocked'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Richard Hunt, director at Liquidation Centre, said the broader high street context mattered, as UK retailers in general have faced rising rents, higher business rates and lower foot traffic.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

"Liquidation proceeds will be distributed as soon as feasible until the investors receive the funds' total net collected liquidation proceeds," Credit Suisse's' asset management arm said on Friday.

From Reuters • Aug. 6, 2021

“Thomas Cook UK Plc and associated UK entities have entered Compulsory Liquidation and are now under the control of the Official Receiver,” says Thomas Cook’s website.

From The Guardian • Sep. 22, 2019

The settlement of 1880 was effected on the basis of the proposals made by this commission, and was embodied in the Law of Liquidation of July 1880—after the deposition of Ismail.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1 "Edwardes" to "Ehrenbreitstein" by Various

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