creditor

[ kred-i-ter ]

noun

1. a person or firm to whom money is due ( debtor ).
2. a person or firm that gives credit in business transactions.
3. Bookkeeping. credit ( def 11b, 11c ).

creditor

/ ˈkrɛdɪtə /

noun

1. See debtor
   a person or commercial enterprise to whom money is owed Compare debtor

creditor

1. One to whom a debt is owed.

Other Words From

• credi·tor·ship noun
• non·credi·tor noun
• pre·credi·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of creditor¹

1400–50; late Middle English creditour < Latin crēditor, equivalent to crēdi- variant stem of crēdere to believe, entrust ( credit ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Lenders and creditors, if successful in court, can then garnish a person’s wages or seize their assets.

From Washington Post

Consumers and creditors depend on our members’ services to help resolve disputes and unpaid debts and in order to help keep the credit system running smoothly.

From Washington Post

If disaster strikes again, we’ll be putting our fate in the hands of our foreign creditors, headed by Japan and China.

From Fortune

Chapter 7 bankruptcy usually entails an appointed trustee selling off a debtor’s assets to pay that person’s creditors.

From Washington Post

Given the strong level of support from our lenders and creditors, we expect to complete the process before the end of this year.

From Washington Post

He had already been involved with The Source, having been a creditor of the company.

From The Daily Beast

Both you and the creditor would have been better off with moderate inflation than an outright breach.

From The Daily Beast

But if your family doctor serves Medicare, he or she too is a federal contractor - and potential creditor.

From The Daily Beast

In Europe the principal divide that has opened is among countries, with debtor nations pitted against creditor nations.

From The Daily Beast

The response of China, the United States' largest creditor, has been the harshest yet.

From The Daily Beast

Some weeks after, the creditor chanced to be in Boston, and in walking up Tremont street, encountered his enterprising friend.

From Project Gutenberg

Only a creditor who owns a demand or provable claim can vote at creditors' meetings.

From Project Gutenberg

Unless some creditor objects and specifies his ground of objection, the petition will be granted.

From Project Gutenberg

It is immaterial to whom the transfer is made if the purpose be to prefer one creditor to another.

From Project Gutenberg

If a portion of a creditor's debt is secured and a portion is unsecured, he may vote on the unsecured portion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bank
• banker