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

In May 2024, Naussany Investments started advertising a foreclosure sale for Graceland, prompting Keough to file a lawsuit of her own, claiming the loan documents were fake. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025

In a couple of years, the home mortgage foreclosures will start. —Kenneth Rapoza, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025

Soto faced foreclosure and bankruptcy. —Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025

One of the costs that Wells Fargo rolled into the new payments was attorney’s fees the bank would incur if the customer failed to keep up with mortgage payments and the home fell into foreclosure, Goyda said. —Deon Roberts, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 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