garnishment

noun

gar·​nish·​ment ˈgär-nish-mənt How to pronounce garnishment (audio)
1
2
: a legal summons or warning concerning the attachment of property to satisfy a debt
3
: a stoppage of a specified sum from wages to satisfy a creditor or a legal obligation (such as child support)

Examples of garnishment in a Sentence

a high-end caterer whose dishes feature an array of over-the-top garnishments
Recent Examples on the Web This encompasses various legal disputes related to taxes, from audits and appeals to wage garnishments and back taxes. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 The wrongly accused were subjected to quadruple penalties and many experienced aggressive collection techniques such as wage garnishment and seizure of income tax refunds that in some cases led to personal bankruptcy. Detroit Free Press, 24 Jan. 2024 But then, about two months later, UAMS moved to reinstate the garnishment – and took that last $82. Casey Tolan, CNN, 8 Sep. 2023 Some other defendants were allowed to set up monthly payment plans to avoid garnishment. Casey Tolan, CNN, 8 Sep. 2023 There will be a carving station with ham, prime rib and leg of lamb, a bagel tower with garnishments of for lox, and several cream cheese varieties, crepe and omelet station, seafood and salad displays. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 5 Apr. 2023 Universal Music Group has 10 days from the receipt of the order of garnishment to pay R. Kelly's debt, according to the documents. Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023 In the first instance, prosecutors said Sessler dropped off forged garnishment paperwork at a daycare where his tenant was employed. Cary Spivak, Journal Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2023 Next, the court pointed out that there were serious procedural flaws in the issuance of the garnishment summons, so severe in fact that the garnishment of the funds was ipso facto invalid and the funds would have to be returned to the LLC. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'garnishment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) garnish entry 1 + -ment; (senses 2 & 3) borrowed from Anglo-French garnissement "warning, notification, notification concerning the attachment of property to satisfy a debt," from garniss-, stem of garnir "to give notice, warn, give legal summons" + -ment -ment — more at garnish entry 1

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of garnishment was in 1550

Dictionary Entries Near garnishment

Cite this Entry

“Garnishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garnishment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

garnishment

noun
gar·​nish·​ment ˈgär-nish-mənt How to pronounce garnishment (audio)
: a remedial device used by a creditor to have property of the debtor or money owed to the debtor that is in the possession of a third party attached to pay the debt to the creditor
specifically : attachment of the debtor's wages to satisfy a judgment compare wage assignment at assignment

More from Merriam-Webster on garnishment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!