arrears

American  

[uh-reerz] / əˈrɪərz /

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.

---

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.

arrears British  

/ əˈrɪəz /

noun

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

2. late in paying a debt or meeting an obligation

---

arrears More Idioms  

1. see in arrears.

---

Other Word Forms

• arrearage noun

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-

Example Sentences

"Landlords will also be able to evict a tenant if they have more than three months' arrears at the time of a court hearing."

From BBC

A run of 73 reduced his arrears and he then won two scrappy frames before compiling a break of 91 to lead 4-2.

From BBC

Beijing has abandoned several infrastructure projects and now relies almost entirely on Venezuela crude exports to satisfy its debt arrears.

From The Wall Street Journal

They included a couple now £13,000 in arrears on a home they bought, and a woman who faced the repossession of a house she left following a marriage breakdown 15 years earlier.

From BBC

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is also deeply in arrears in terms of data release, having last published its PCE inflation report for the month of August on Sept. 26.

From Barron's

Related Words

• deficit
• liability
• obligation