forbearance

American  

[fawr-bair-uhns] / fɔrˈbɛər əns /

noun

1. the act of forbearing; a refraining from something.

   Synonyms:

   abstinence

2. forbearing conduct or quality; patient endurance; self-control.

   Their teacher exhibited great forbearance when the children started acting up in class.

   Synonyms:

   indulgence, sufferance, toleration, tolerance

3. an abstaining from the enforcement of a right.

4. Finance. a form of repayment relief granted by a lender that temporarily postpones payments due from a borrower, while interest on the loan typically continues to accrue.

   When he had difficulty making his monthly mortgage payments, the bank granted a forbearance, so he avoided foreclosure on his home.

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forbearance British  

/ fɔːˈbɛərəns /

noun

1. the act of forbearing

2. self-control; patience

3. law abstention from or postponement of the enforcement of a legal right, esp by a creditor allowing his debtor time to pay

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Usage

What does forbearance mean in mortgages? Forbearance is a form of repayment relief granted by a lender that temporarily postpones payments due from a borrower, while interest on the loan typically continues to accrue. The terms of forbearance are negotiated between the borrower and the lender. For example, if an individual has difficulty making monthly mortgage payments, a forbearance agreement from the bank can avoid foreclosure on the person’s home.

Other Word Forms

• nonforbearance
  noun

Etymology

Origin of forbearance

First recorded in 1570–80; forbear + -ance

Explanation

When a teacher says, "Bear with me for a moment," while he writes on the board, he is asking for the class's forbearance. He wants them to wait patiently during the delay. Forbearance also has a more technical, legal meaning — if you are owed money and you give someone extra time to get it to you, you're showing them forbearance. The word has nothing to do with actual bears, but if you think of one slumbering through its winter hibernation, that might help remember its meaning.

Example Sentences

Western Alliance Bancorporation filed a lawsuit against Jefferies Financial Group after being informed that $126.4 million in forbearance payments would not be made.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

“I think some people were being offered forbearance that, frankly, didn’t comply with 238 when it should have,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Also authored by Harabedian, AB 238 prohibited mortgage lenders and servicers from requiring borrowers to pay back any forbearance in a lump sum, but it otherwise did not specify repayment terms.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Part of that year-over-year jump, however, is due to resumption of reporting on student-loan repayments after the Covid-19 pandemic payment pause and forbearance period.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

They spoke, therefore, of Mrs. Churchill’s death with mutual forbearance.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Related Words

• fortitude
• self-control