bankrupt

[bangk-ruhpt, -ruhpt]

noun

1. Law.,  a person who upon their own petition or that of their creditors is adjudged insolvent by a court and whose property is administered for and divided among their creditors under a bankruptcy law.

2. any insolvent debtor; a person unable to satisfy any just claims made upon them.

3. a person who is lacking in a particular thing or quality.

   a moral bankrupt.

adjective

1. Law.,  subject to or under legal process because of insolvency; insolvent.

   Synonyms: impoverished, destitute

2. at the end of one's resources; lacking (usually followed by of orin ).

   bankrupt of compassion;

   bankrupt in good manners.

3. related to the act or process of being adjudged insolvent by a court and having one's property andministered for and divided among one's creditors.

verb (used with object)

1. to make insolvent.

   His embezzlement bankrupted the company.

bankrupt

/ ˈbæŋkrʌpt, -rəpt /

noun

1. a person adjudged insolvent by a court, his or her property being transferred to a trustee and administered for the benefit of his creditors

2. any person unable to discharge all his or her debts

3. a person whose resources in a certain field are exhausted or nonexistent

   a spiritual bankrupt

adjective

1. adjudged insolvent

2. financially ruined

3. depleted in resources or having completely failed

   spiritually bankrupt

4. (foll by of) lacking

   bankrupt of intelligence

verb

1. (tr) to make bankrupt

Other Word Forms

• pseudobankrupt adjective
• quasi-bankrupt adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bankrupt¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin banca rupta “bank broken”; replacing adaptations of Italian banca rota and French banqueroute in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of bankrupt¹

C16: from Old French banqueroute , from Old Italian bancarotta , from banca _bank ¹ + rotta broken, from Latin ruptus , from rumpere to break

Example Sentences

Patrick James, the chief executive officer of bankrupt auto-parts supplier First Brands, has resigned his position after accounting irregularities came to light.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Hillingdon Council says it is at risk of going effectively bankrupt and has put in a request for exceptional financial support from the government.

Read more on BBC

The company later went bankrupt, and turbine makers were left with excess capacity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Banks are sifting through their exposure to the bankrupt auto-parts supplier and its chain of customers and suppliers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He lost his home, his livelihood and went bankrupt as a result.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• broke 
• destitute 
• failed 
• insolvent