arrears
Americanplural noun
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the state of being behind or late, especially in the fulfillment of a duty, promise, obligation, or the like.
Many homeowners have fallen into arrears.
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Sometimes arrear something overdue in payment; a debt that remains unpaid.
Those countries that have paid their arrears may be granted additional loans.
idioms
noun
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Also called: arrearage. (sometimes singular) something outstanding or owed
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late in paying a debt or meeting an obligation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of arrears
1300–50; noun use of arrear (adv., now obsolete), Middle English arere behind < Middle French ≪ Latin ad retrō. See ad-, retro-
Explanation
If you are in arrears, you are behind in the payment of a debt. Think: rears = behind. Arrears also refers to the unpaid, overdue debt itself. Your rent arrears are the money you owe on rent. Arrears is a term often used in a legal context — like, when you've had to hire a lawyer because you're being sued by your landlord, or being evicted because you're in arrears on your rent. Before it comes to eviction, though, you should try negotiating with your landlord first. They would probably be more interested in collecting arrears, even late, than in evicting you and starting with a new tenant from scratch.
Vocabulary lists containing arrears
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
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The Cuckoo's Calling
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The Time Machine
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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.
And as a result, their numbers are always out of date by the time they are published, because they are typically reported a month in arrears.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026
The agency's director-general Gilbert Houngbo "has decided to rescind the appointment of the deputy director-general, considering continued delays in the payment of arrears", the ILO said in a statement.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
The U.S. is more than $4 billion in arrears to the U.N.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
The latest figures show that the level of energy debt and arrears in England, Wales and Scotland between April and June 2025 was £4.4bn - £750m higher than in the same period in 2024.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Mam comes back up to Italy and sits by the fire wondering where in God’s name she’ll get the money for a week’s rent never mind the arrears.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
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.
