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

Mark Braddock, who worked for Todd’s foreclosure management company, Chrisley Asset Management, claimed while testifying in the couple’s fraud trial, Todd cheated on Julie with him and that they were blackmailed to keep it secret. —Peter White, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025

Bunn says that in these unfortunate situations, properties often fall into disrepair, losing equity and value, and in some cases, even face foreclosure. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 1 Sep. 2025

The court thus expanded the injunction from eight years to ten years, basically prohibited Brooksby from participating in any fashion whatsoever in any public real estate foreclosure auction, and also imposed additional reporting requirements upon him. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

This is the highest number of property tax foreclosures in any American city since the Great Depression. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreclosure

• nondisclosure
• postexposure
• closure
• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• 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