debtor

American  

[det-er] / ˈdɛt ər /

noun

1. a person who is in debt or under financial obligation to another (creditor ).

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debtor British  

/ ˈdɛtə /

noun

1. a person or commercial enterprise that owes a financial obligation Compare creditor

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Other Word Forms

• nondebtor noun
• predebtor noun

Etymology

Origin of debtor

1250–1300; Middle English detto ( u ) r < Anglo-French dett ( o ) ur, de ( b ) tour, Old French det ( t ) or < Latin dēbitōr-, stem of dēbitor, equivalent to dēbi-, variant stem of dēbēre ( debt ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The state does not notify a person when a lien names them as the debtor, allowing fake filings to remain in California’s public database for years before a victim discovers them.

From Los Angeles Times

Luminar Semi isn’t a debtor in Luminar’s chapter 11 cases and its operations are expected to be unaffected by the chapter 11 filing, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal

They will then understand the chit as worthless, which must mean the exclusion of the debtor from the game.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s not a routine Chapter 11 case,” a lawyer for lenders that have agreed to provide First Brands with more than $1 billion in emergency debtor financing told the judge.

From Los Angeles Times

In April, the IMF had approved a new loan of $20 billion for Argentina, already its biggest debtor.

From Barron's

Related Words

• borrower
• defaulter