debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈde-tər 

1

: one guilty of neglect or violation of duty

2

: one who owes a debt

Examples of debtor in a Sentence

The debtor agrees to pay the debt over a three-year period.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company is operating as a debtor in possession and is seeking approval for motions to continue ordinary operations. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2025

The exemption applies as long as the assets are reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and their dependents. —James Brewer, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Right now, China and other major debt holders are then also wary of offering debt relief, knowing the debtor country will likely use any financial breathing room to pay the private bond market. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2024

Lawsuits filed in several states have sought to stop Biden's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), which calculates a debtor's monthly payment amount based on their income and family size and reduces interest charged. —Aliss Higham, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for debtor

• better
• bettor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petar
• petter
• rhetor
• setter
• sweater
• tetter

Kids Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈdet-ər 

1

: sinner

2

: one that owes a debt

Legal Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or

: a person who owes a debt see also bankrupt compare creditor, obligee, obligor

Note: The Bankruptcy Act of 1978 calls the person concerned in a bankruptcy case the “debtor” as opposed to the “bankrupt.”