creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-di-tər 

-ˌtȯr

: one to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due

Examples of creditor in a Sentence

She owes thousands of dollars to creditors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bion has engaged in discussions with creditors but has not reached agreements regarding payments. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

The financial news outlet said such bonuses are common to maintain continuity through the bankruptcy process and to help creditors recover more money. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 13 Nov. 2024

The Chapter 11 petition said the company estimated its number of creditors at between 50,000 to 100,000. —Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024

Control of two more, including Whispering Pines, has been given to a caretaker at a creditor’s request in a receivership action brought after loans signed by Shmaryahu Baumgarten went unpaid. —Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkred-ət-ər 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

Legal Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-də-tər, -ˌtȯr 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due compare debtor, obligor

— general creditor

: a creditor who is not secured by a lien or other security interest

called also unsecured creditor

— judgment creditor

: a creditor who has a money judgment entered against the debtor and may enforce the judgment (as by attachment or writ of execution)

— known creditor

: a creditor whose potential claim is known or should be known by a debtor and who is entitled to notice of a corporate dissolution or of a date at which claims will be barred (as in bankruptcy)

— lien creditor

: a creditor who is secured by a lien (as by attachment)

— secured creditor

: a creditor who has a security interest (as a mortgage)

— unsecured creditor

: general creditor in this entry