arrears

[uh-reerz]

plural noun

1. 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.

2. Sometimes arrear something overdue in payment; a debt that remains unpaid.

   Those countries that have paid their arrears may be granted additional loans.

arrears

/ əˈrɪəz /

noun

1. Also called: arrearage. (sometimes singular) something outstanding or owed

2. late in paying a debt or meeting an obligation

Other Word Forms

• arrearage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrears¹

1300–50; noun use of arrear (adv., now obsolete), Middle English arere behind < Middle French ≪ Latin ad retrō. See ad-, retro-

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrears¹

C18: from obsolete arrear (adv) behindhand, from Old French arere, from Medieval Latin adretrō, from Latin ad to + retrō backwards

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in arrears, behind or late, especially in payment: Also in arrear

   She was three months in arrears on her mortgage and credit card payments.

see in arrears.

Example Sentences

Ofgem said that the level of energy debt and arrears in England, Wales and Scotland had risen by more than £750m compared with a year earlier.

Read more on BBC

They had cut the deficit to just three with 20 minutes of the game remaining, reducing the arrears first through Morgane Bourgeois' penalty and then Charlotte Escudero's converted try.

Read more on BBC

“Sword enthusiast sells stock to help wipe out arrears.”

Read more on Salon

It said the closure would have a "significant" impact on its operations and it believed it would be "unlikely to recover any rent arrears and costs".

Read more on BBC

Last year, Reynolds helped defuse a crisis when dozens of veterans living on the West Los Angeles campus fell in arrears and received eviction notices.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deficit 
• liability 
• obligation