garnishment

American  

[gahr-nish-muhnt] / ˈgɑr nɪʃ mənt /

noun

1. Law.

   1. a warning, served on a third party to hold, subject to the court's direction, money or property belonging to a debtor who is being sued by a creditor.

   2. a summons to a third party to appear in litigation pending between a creditor and debtor.

2. adornment or decoration.

---

garnishment British  

/ ˈɡɑːnɪʃmənt /

noun

1. the act of garnishing

2. decoration or embellishment; garnish

3. law

   1. a notice or warning

   2. obsolete a summons to court proceedings already in progress

   3. a notice warning a person holding money or property belonging to a debtor whose debt has been attached to hold such property until directed by the court to apply it

---

Etymology

Origin of garnishment

First recorded in 1540–50; garnish + -ment

Example Sentences

“That garnishment actually pushed me below minimum wage. How was that legal?”

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

Research by Anthony DeFusco at the University of Wisconsin shows that borrowers typically remain in loan garnishment for only five months.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

It said wage garnishment is conducted only after student and parent borrowers have been provided sufficient notice and opportunity to repay their loans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

McFadden was able to suspend the garnishment by applying for a financial-hardship exemption from the government.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

Was he lavish in his garnishment of the Blue Goose?

From The Blue Goose by Nason, Frank Lewis