escrow

1 of 2

noun

es·​crow ˈe-ˌskrō  e-ˈskrō 

1

: a deed, a bond, money, or a piece of property held in trust by a third party to be turned over to the grantee only upon fulfillment of a condition

2

: a fund or deposit designed to serve as an escrow

see also:

in escrow

escrow

2 of 2

verb

es·​crow e-ˈskrō  ˈe-ˌskrō 

escrowed; escrowing; escrows

transitive verb

: to place in escrow

Examples of escrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Closing costs include other services, such as setting up an escrow account, making sure all the mortgages are paid off, paying transfer fees and taxes. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

The woman charged in her murder, Kristin Ramsey, began working for a title and escrow company owned by Iowa Realty in the months after Okland’s death, Iowa Realty said last week. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026

Verb

State prosecutors say Kaufman collected money through the Huron County Public Guardian and failed to escrow the funds. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Its latest innovation, ESCROWPay™, automates escrow reconciliation and remittance. —Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French escroue scroll — more at scroll

First Known Use

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing escrow

• in escrow

Rhymes for escrow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

escrow

noun

es·​crow e-ˈskrō 

: something (as a deed or a sum of money) delivered by one person to another to be delivered by the second to a third party only upon the fulfillment of a condition

escrow verb

Legal Definition

escrow

1 of 2 noun

es·​crow ˈes-ˌkrō 

1

: an instrument and especially a deed or money or property held by a third party to be turned over to the grantee and become effective only upon the fulfillment of some condition

2

: a fund or deposit designed to serve as an escrow

escrow

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to cause to be held as an escrow : place in escrow

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French escroue deed delivered on condition, literally, scroll, strip of parchment, from Old French escroe