illiquid

adjective

il·​liq·​uid (ˌ)i(l)-ˈlik-wəd 

1

: not being cash or readily convertible into cash

illiquid holdings

2

: deficient in liquid assets

an illiquid bank

illiquidity

(ˌ)i(l)-ˌli-ˈkwi-də-tē 

noun

Examples of illiquid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tech leaders opposing the proposal are concerned the tax would apply to unrealized gains, meaning startup founders with a net worth of more than $1 billion based on the paper value of their private stock would be on the hook despite their wealth being illiquid. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is mostly illiquid assets, many connected to its domestic economic development plan, leaving little cash to deploy abroad, Rob Copeland and Vivian Nereim report in The New York Times. —Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 21 Nov. 2025

The global tokenization of illiquid assets—everything from vintage paintings or vinyl records to collectors’ cards or real estate—is slated to become a $16 trillion business opportunity by 2030, according to the Boston Consulting Group. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

Such independent risk assessments would help promote greater confidence in the asset class, especially given its illiquid nature. —Henry Fernandez, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for illiquid

• liquid