insolvency
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of insolvency
First recorded in 1650–60; insolv(ent) + -ency
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How does insolvency compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Insolvency is when someone is completely out of money. A company's insolvency means that it isn't able to pay its workers and may have to go out of business. A family's insolvency is a frightening thing — it might result in the loss of their home, for example, since they can't afford to pay their bills. The noun insolvency is more often used to describe the financial troubles of a business or other organization. If your tennis club faces insolvency, it may need to seek help from investors or close altogether. The adjective insolvent means "unable to pay one's debts," combining the roots in, "not," and solventem, "paying."
Vocabulary lists containing insolvency
Jane Eyre
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The Princess Bride
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Vocabulary from the Twelfth Republican Debate, March 10, 2016
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Peter Etherington was due to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Friday over a charge brought by the Insolvency Service but did not appear after an email from his daughter claimed he was in hospital.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
Mrs Clegg, prosecuting on behalf of the Insolvency Service, said his absence was "not unexpected".
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
A spokesperson for the UK Insolvency Service tells the BBC that National Insurance funds will now be used to pay for the missing contributions.
From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025
The Insolvency Service opened an investigation into Vashi the following year after the company's collapse.
From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025
Insolvency always takes place before bankruptcy; for bankruptcy is nothing more than the publication of that insolvency.
From The Writings Of Thomas Paine, Volume III. 1791-1804 by Paine, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
