debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈde-tər 

1

: one guilty of neglect or violation of duty

2

: one who owes a debt

Examples of debtor in a Sentence

The debtor agrees to pay the debt over a three-year period.

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with the $75 million in debtor-in-process financing, the company also obtained commitments for more than $75 million in exit financing, which will refinance the debtor-in-process financing and provide Lycra with capital once the Chapter 11 process is completed. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026

Hawthorne hopes to appear in federal bankruptcy court in Chicago next week to secure debtor-in-possession financing to fund its restructuring. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

That turns you into a debtor nation. —CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026

Robinson knew of his reputation as a drug dealer, and allegedly used him to beat up debtors. —Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for debtor

• better
• bettor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petar
• petter
• rhetor
• setter
• sweater
• tetter

Kids Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈdet-ər 

1

: sinner

2

: one that owes a debt

Legal Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or

: a person who owes a debt see also bankrupt compare creditor, obligee, obligor

Note: The Bankruptcy Act of 1978 calls the person concerned in a bankruptcy case the “debtor” as opposed to the “bankrupt.”