in·sol·vent
(ˌ)in-ˈsäl-vənt 
-ˈsȯl-
1
a
: unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business
b
: having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
2
: insufficient to pay all debts
an insolvent estate
plural insolvents
: an insolvent debtor : a person or entity that is unable to pay debts as they fall due
The country's newspapers regularly published legal notices that announced private assignments for the benefit of creditors, the attachments by creditors against the property of absconding debtors, and court-mandated auctions of assets owned by insolvents.—
Edward J. Balleisen
Edward J. BalleisenExamples of insolvent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebTribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024
Instead, Washington bailed out insolvent firms and, for the most part, let the labor market crash, spinning the wheel of moral hazard once again.
—Raphaële Chappe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020
Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 19 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, this made the bank insolvent, and a bank run ensued.
—Zain Jaffer, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insolvent 
Adjective
Twelve insurance companies became insolvent and dozens left the state.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024
Instead, Washington bailed out insolvent firms and, for the most part, let the labor market crash, spinning the wheel of moral hazard once again.
—Raphaële Chappe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020
Noun
The scheme impacted both investors trading and the exchange itself, which had to suspend operations after Eisenberg's attack made the exchange insolvent.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 19 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, this made the bank insolvent, and a bank run ensued.
—Zain Jaffer, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insolvent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insolvent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near insolvent
Cite this Entry
“Insolvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insolvent. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insolvent
adjective
in·sol·vent
(ˈ)in-ˈsäl-vənt
: not having or providing enough money to pay debts
an insolvent company
Legal Definition
insolvent
adjective
in·sol·vent
in-ˈsäl-vənt
1
: having ceased paying or unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business compare bankrupt
2
: having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
3
: insufficient to pay all debts
an insolvent estate
insolvent
noun
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