foreclosure

noun

fore·​clo·​sure (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklō-zhər 

: an act or instance of foreclosing

specifically : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate

Examples of foreclosure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The couple had previously been facing foreclosure on their Georgia mansion before selling it, along with their furniture. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 12 June 2025

In the 106-minute comedy, Logic plays the gregarious, weed-smoking Cooper, a record store owner who owes the bank $100,000 and whose shop is facing foreclosure. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 10 June 2025

Two hotels in the East Bay have tumbled into bankruptcy ahead of scheduled foreclosures, in a fresh sign that post-coronavirus maladies still afflict the feeble lodging markets in the Bay Area. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 June 2025

Injustice Watch also found that Illinois is the last state to unlawfully strip wealth from homeowners facing property tax foreclosure. —Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreclosure

• nondisclosure
• postexposure
• closure
• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• composure
• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• exposure
• inclosure

Legal Definition

foreclosure

noun

fore·​clos·​ure fōr-ˈklō-zhər 

1

: a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's equity of redemption in mortgaged real property see also deficiency judgment at judgment, redeem, right of redemption, statutory foreclosure, strict foreclosure sense 1

2

: the extinguishment (as under the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the rights of a debtor in personal property subject to a security interest by judicial proceedings and especially by judicial sale see also strict foreclosure sense 2