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Synonyms

liquidation

American  
[lik-wi-dey-shuhn] / ˌlɪk wɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the process of realizing upon assets and of discharging liabilities in concluding the affairs of a business, estate, etc.

  2. the process of converting securities or commodities into cash.

  3. the state of being liquidated.

    an estate in liquidation.
liquidation British  
/ ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

    1. the process of terminating the affairs of a business firm, etc, by realizing its assets to discharge its liabilities

    2. the state of a business firm, etc, having its affairs so terminated (esp in the phrase to go into liquidation )

  2. destruction; elimination

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
liquidation Cultural  

  1. The conversion of the assets of a firm into cash, often just before the firm goes out of business.

Other Word Forms

  • nonliquidation noun
  • preliquidation noun
  • reliquidation noun

Etymology

Origin of liquidation

First recorded in 1565–75; liquidate + -ion

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.

“Gold remains around 11% below late-February highs, following forced liquidation during the escalation in Middle East tensions, which temporarily weakened its safe-haven appeal,” analysts at ING said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“A very simple rule of thumb for tactical liquidation is when gold and equities crash together, which usually signals margin call / liquidation-esque behavior,” they say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

The trustee for Nikola’s liquidation said it had a judgment for more than $100 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Equity losses also triggered forced liquidation of metals to meet margin calls.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

His accountant, Itzhak Stern, thought that Schindler committed to saving Jews after he witnessed the mass killings during the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

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.