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

But the Sandy Hook families agreed to forgo a portion of their distributions under the latter offer, meaning Jones’s other creditors would receive more. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024

Major creditors: Capital One, Richmond, Va., $23,212; American Express, Fort Lauderdale, $8,400. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024

The proceeds from the sale of Infowars and Jones’ other assets will go toward his estate creditors, including the families of Sandy Hook victims. —Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024

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