garnishment

noun

gar·​nish·​ment ˈgär-nish-mənt 

1

: ornament, garnish

2

: a legal summons or warning concerning the attachment of property to satisfy a debt

3

: a stoppage of a specified sum from wages to satisfy a creditor or a legal obligation (such as child support)

Synonyms of garnishment

• ornament
• ornamentation
• decoration
• garnish

Examples of garnishment in a Sentence

a high-end caterer whose dishes feature an array of over-the-top garnishments

Recent Examples on the Web

And earlier this month, the department had announced that the first batch of administrative wage garnishment notices would be sent out to borrowers’ employers. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Are wages exempt from garnishment in Texas? —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026

One individual may face wage garnishment that threatens basic living expenses. —Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026

Friday’s announcement was welcomed by student loan advocates who urged the department not to resume wage garnishment. —Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) garnish entry 1 + -ment; (senses 2 & 3) borrowed from Anglo-French garnissement "warning, notification, notification concerning the attachment of property to satisfy a debt," from garniss-, stem of garnir "to give notice, warn, give legal summons" + -ment -ment — more at garnish entry 1

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

garnishment

noun

gar·​nish·​ment ˈgär-nish-mənt 

: a remedial device used by a creditor to have property of the debtor or money owed to the debtor that is in the possession of a third party attached to pay the debt to the creditor

specifically : attachment of the debtor's wages to satisfy a judgment compare wage assignment at assignment