escrow

American  

[es-kroh, ih-skroh, ih-skroh, es-kroh] / ˈɛs kroʊ, ɪˈskroʊ, ɪˈskroʊ, ˈɛs kroʊ /

noun

1. a contract, deed, bond, or other written agreement deposited with a third person, by whom it is to be delivered to the grantee or promisee on the fulfillment of some condition.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to place in escrow.

   The home seller agrees to escrow the sum of $1000 with his attorney.

idioms

1. in escrow, in the keeping of a third person for delivery to a given party upon the fulfillment of some condition.

escrow British  

/ ɛˈskrəʊ, ˈɛskrəʊ /

noun

1. money, goods, or a written document, such as a contract bond, delivered to a third party and held by him pending fulfilment of some condition

2. the state or condition of being an escrow (esp in the phrase in escrow )

---

verb

1. to place (money, a document, etc) in escrow

escrow Cultural  

1. The condition of being ineffective until certain conditions are met. For example, money inherited by a minor might be held in escrow until the heir reaches a certain age. Homeowners with mortgages frequently pay money for insurance and taxes on their home into an escrow account each month. The holder of the mortgage then pays the insurance and tax bills out of the escrow account when the bills are due.

---

Etymology

Origin of escrow

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Anglo-French escro(u)we, from Old French escro(u)e; see scroll

Explanation

If you buy a house, you'll have to put money in escrow, which means you give it to a third party (like a bank), while the seller actually brings the deed and signs it over to you. The word escrow comes from the Old French escroue meaning "scrap, roll of parchment." Think of an escrow as a deed rolled up and delivered to a trusted person who hangs onto it, only giving out the money on the deed after the person who's supposed to get it does whatever he agreed to do. It's a safe way to do business, and prevents sellers from running off with your money before they've given you what you bought.

Example Sentences

Wilson says the board was seeking to have him put millions of dollars into an escrow account to cover a “hypothetical, potential future breach of the nondisparagement” clause.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The project also fell out of escrow with the prospective buyer, who was unresponsive to repeated extension requests from Ofland, the letter said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The same insider added that the duo had accepted an offer on the dwelling and gone into escrow, before the deal fell through, prompting their decision to delist the home altogether.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

The San Francisco company also deposited $500 million into its litigation escrow account, which was established to insulate the company from financial liability for certain litigation cases.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

When the tenant told them what they already knew—that the money had been deposited in an escrow account—the officials left, but returned a half hour later and demanded that the man come downtown with them.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson