arrear

noun

ar·​rear ə-ˈrir 

1

: the state of being behind in the discharge of obligations

—usually used in plural

They were in arrears with the rent. [=they had failed to pay the rent when it was due]

2

a

: an unfinished duty

—usually used in plural

arrears of work that have piled up

b

: an unpaid and overdue debt

—usually used in plural

paying off the arrears of the past several months

Synonyms

• debt

Examples of arrear in a Sentence

since it lost the discrimination lawsuit, the employer will have to pay the worker all arrears in salary

Recent Examples on the Web

Better to pre-empt that charge than pay it in arrears. —Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

That ended early this year, triggering the credit score crash for borrowers in arrears or default. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

The relief targets ComEd residential customers at or below 300% of the federal poverty level who are in arrears. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

In 1384, its leaders petitioned the papal treasury, demanding arrears they were owed from a priest’s donation – and received what was due. —Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, in plural arrers, arrears "balance due, unpaid debt," borrowed from Anglo-French arere, arrere (also sometimes in plural) "state of being behind in payment," noun derivative of arere, ariere, adverb, "back, backward, behind" (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *ad retrō, from Latin ad "to, toward" + retrō "toward the rear, in the rear, behind" — more at at entry 1, retro-

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for arrear

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir
• endear

Legal Definition

arrear

noun

ar·​rear ə-ˈrir 

1

a

: the condition of being behind in one's duties or especially financial obligations

—usually used in pl.

in arrears with the rent

b

: the condition of being due at the end of a term rather than the beginning

—usually used in pl.

mortgage payments are made in arrears

2

: an unpaid and overdue debt

—usually used in pl.

paying off the arrears of the previous owners