foreclosure

noun

fore·​clo·​sure (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklō-zhər 

: an act or instance of foreclosing

specifically : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate

Examples of foreclosure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The property's listing agent told CBS News Bay Area that Iriarte-Valdez had mentioned experiencing financial problems and that the home appeared to be headed toward foreclosure. — Maddie White, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

In his court filings, Lewis said officials will need to determine when Paul and Sally Anne Cash died to determine if the foreclosure was valid. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Kane said pandemic-era foreclosure assistance is gone and funding for housing counseling and legal services has declined. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

Apartment values appear to have faltered in Oakland, an economic erosion that has unleashed loan delinquencies and even foreclosures in a growing number of instances. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreclosure

• nondisclosure
• postexposure
• closure
• crozier
• mosher
• osier
• composure
• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• exposure
• inclosure

Legal Definition

foreclosure

noun

fore·​clos·​ure fōr-ˈklō-zhər 

1

: a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's equity of redemption in mortgaged real property see also deficiency judgment at judgment, redeem, right of redemption, statutory foreclosure, strict foreclosure sense 1

2

: the extinguishment (as under the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the rights of a debtor in personal property subject to a security interest by judicial proceedings and especially by judicial sale see also strict foreclosure sense 2