foreclosure

American  

[fawr-kloh-zher, fohr-] / fɔrˈkloʊ ʒər, foʊr- /

noun

Law.

1. the act of foreclosing a mortgage or pledge.

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foreclosure Cultural  

1. A proceeding in which the financer of a mortgage seeks to regain property because the borrower has defaulted on payments.

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Other Word Forms

• antiforeclosure noun
• nonforeclosure noun

Etymology

Origin of foreclosure

First recorded in 1720–30; foreclose + -ure

Example Sentences

Before they married, she had purchased a home that had gone into foreclosure, using her own money.

From MarketWatch

Both townhouses were facing the threat of being sold at a foreclosure auction after the Cosbys were accused by two separate lenders of defaulting on loans taken out against their properties.

From MarketWatch

It is unclear whether he has taken any action to prevent foreclosure since the notice was served.

From MarketWatch

While foreclosure filings of distressed properties—the kind flippers look for—were up 17% in the third quarter of 2025 versus the same time last year, these investors continue to face major challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also revealed that his Baltimore home was facing foreclosure and would be “sold at auction.”

From Los Angeles Times