bankrupt

1 of 3

noun

bank·​rupt ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəpt 

1

a

: a debtor (such as an individual or an organization) whose property is subject to voluntary or involuntary administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors

b

: a person who becomes insolvent

2

: a person who is completely lacking in a particular desirable quality or attribute

a moral bankrupt

bankrupt

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: reduced to a state of financial ruin : impoverished

specifically : legally declared bankrupt

the company went bankrupt

b

: of or relating to bankrupts or bankruptcy

bankrupt laws

2

a

: broken, ruined

a bankrupt professional career

b

: exhausted of valuable qualities : sterile

a bankrupt old culture

c

: destitute

—used with of or in

bankrupt of all merciful feelings

bankrupt

3 of 3

verb

bankrupted; bankrupting; bankrupts

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to bankruptcy

2

: impoverish

defections had bankrupted the party of its brainpower

Synonyms

Adjective

• bare
• barren
• bereft
• destitute
• devoid
• void

Verb

• break
• bust
• ruin

Choose the Right Synonym for bankrupt

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of bankrupt in a Sentence

Noun

As a lawyer, she specialized in working with bankrupts.

Adjective

The lawsuit could leave them bankrupt.

the company's product development team was bankrupt of ideas

Verb

Several risky deals bankrupted the company.

several bad investments bankrupted him

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The fight almost bankrupts the town of Shelby, Montana, which borrowed heavily to stage it. 1930 — Helen Wills Moody wins her fourth straight singles title at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elizabeth Ryan. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2023

The plan is intended to prevent the company from being dissolved, forced into liquidation or formally declared bankrupt. —Michelle Toh, CNN, 19 May 2020

Adjective

States such as China, Brazil, and India are casting themselves as new alternatives to bankrupt Western leadership. —Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024

At the same time, the Fed’s superfluous nature on the matter of inflation is a reminder that governments, not banks, cause inflation given their economically bankrupt belief that devaluation of the dollars individuals and businesses earn is somehow good for the economy. —John Tamny, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

Trump has tried to tackle medical billing, a byzantine—and sometimes bankrupting—process for many in the U.S. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2024

But 2020 proved to be a crippling blow that threatened to bankrupt the theater where Smith forged his love affair with movies. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French banqueroute bankruptcy, from Old Italian bancarotta, from banca bank + rotta broken, from Latin rupta, feminine of ruptus, past participle of rumpere to break — more at bank, reave

First Known Use

Noun

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bankrupt

• go bankrupt
• morally bankrupt

Kids Definition

bankrupt

1 of 3 noun

bank·​rupt ˈbaŋ-(ˌ)krəpt 

: an individual or group who becomes bankrupt

especially : one whose property by court order is turned over to be managed for the benefit of the creditors

bankrupt

2 of 3 adjective

1

: unable to pay one's debts

2

: legally declared bankrupt

the company went bankrupt

bankrupt

3 of 3 verb

: to make bankrupt

Legal Definition

bankrupt

1 of 3 noun

bank·​rupt ˈbaŋ-ˌkrəpt 

: a debtor (as an individual or organization) whose property is subject to administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors

was adjudicated a bankrupt

see also debtor

bankrupt

2 of 3 adjective

: ruined financially

especially : judicially declared a bankrupt

the company is bankrupt

compare insolvent

bankrupt

3 of 3 transitive verb

: to reduce to bankruptcy

was bankrupted by attorney's fees