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.

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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

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arrears More Idioms  

1. see in arrears.

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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-

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.

Example Sentences

Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments are made a year in arrears, so if your costs rose this year, your Social Security payments wouldn’t go up in response until 2027.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

The latest mortgage-arrears data, via the Canadian Bankers Association, suggest 0.26% of Canadian mortgages are in arrears as of the end of 2025, up from a low of 0.14% in the fall of 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The wage arrears on Ivan's ship were in the region of $175,000 at the time of the ITF's initial involvement.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Inflation also undermines the value of Social Security payments, because the annual cost-of-living adjustments come a year in arrears.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

My own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all day to clear off; it was dark when I was able to inquire about my zoöphagous patient.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• deficit
• liability
• obligation