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

Hardship withdrawals are permitted by the IRS for a limited number of financial issues, including covering medical care or payments to avoid eviction or foreclosure. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026

The Leamington was taken back by lender CIT Bank in January 2025 through a deed in lieu of foreclosure. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026

Home prices in some markets dropped by half, and foreclosures soared. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026

Zolciak, who also had her own Bravo spinoff Don’t Be Tardy, lost her $6 million Atlanta mansion to foreclosure in 2025 following her separation from husband Kroy Biermann. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026

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