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

Debt relief companies specialize in negotiating with creditors and can often secure better settlement terms than borrowers who are negotiating alone, particularly when dealing with aggressive debt collection attorneys. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

The civil complaints, including some connected to Bellum Entertainment debts, each alleged that McDonnell owed more than $1 million to creditors across the country. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

The company wants to continue its negotiations with financial creditors while ensuring business continuity. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

Final approval by the IMF Executive Board depends on Kyiv broadening its tax base, closing customs loopholes, and securing financing guarantees from creditors. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for creditor

• editor
• predator
• coeditor

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