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

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

Pat McGrath Labs has received $10 million in debtor in possession financing. —Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 17 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.”