insolvent

adjective

Save Word

in·sol·vent | \ (ˌ)in-ˈsäl-vənt

, -ˈsȯl- \

Definition of insolvent

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business

b : having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held

2 : insufficient to pay all debts an insolvent estate

insolvent

noun

plural insolvents

Definition of insolvent (Entry 2 of 2)

: an insolvent debtor : a person or entity that is unable to pay debts as they fall due The country's newspapers regularly published legal notices that announced private assignments for the benefit of creditors, the attachments by creditors against the property of absconding debtors, and court-mandated auctions of assets owned by insolvents.— Edward J. Balleisen

Other Words from insolvent More Example Sentences Learn More about insolvent

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of insolvent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective But states can’t file for bankruptcy, so Democratic legislators have stayed in power by making ever-larger grants to big cities, ignoring the insolvent state pension plan, and providing visible perks to key voting blocs. — Bob Stefanowski, WSJ, "Connecticut’s Blue Politicians Spill an Ocean of Red Ink," 14 June 2019 Put simply, a country that issues its own currency can never run out and can never become insolvent in its own currency. — WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: Gregory Mankiw on Modern Monetary Theory," 14 Jan. 2020 In other words, SolarCity was nearly insolvent when Tesla shareholders voted to pay $2.6 billion for the solar panel maker and take on its debts, rescuing it from probable bankruptcy. — Russ Mitchell, SFChronicle.com, "Suit: Musk knew SolarCity was going broke before merger with Tesla," 24 Sep. 2019 In other words, SolarCity was nearly insolvent when Tesla shareholders voted to pay $2.6 billion for the solar panel maker and take on its debts, rescuing it from probable bankruptcy. — Russ Mitchell, SFChronicle.com, "Suit: Musk knew SolarCity was going broke before merger with Tesla," 24 Sep. 2019 Bury was one of ten sides to become insolvent in 2002, when a TV deal for lower-league clubs fell apart. — The Economist, "The end of a 134-year-old English football club," 29 Aug. 2019 Multiple companies—Jet Airways, Videocon, and Reliance Communications, to name a few—have crumbled into insolvent pitcher plants, seemingly from positions of strength. — Vatsal Bhandari, Quartz India, "This simple formula could have predicted the distress at many bankrupt Indian firms," 29 Oct. 2019 In other words, SolarCity was nearly insolvent when Tesla shareholders voted to pay $2.6 billion for the solar panel maker and take on its debts, rescuing it from probable bankruptcy. — Russ Mitchell, SFChronicle.com, "Suit: Musk knew SolarCity was going broke before merger with Tesla," 24 Sep. 2019 If those plans become insolvent, the PBGC will pay the retirement benefits — but at a fraction of what workers were previously owed. — BostonGlobe.com, "Pension albatross leaves a Bay State brickyard and its workers in ‘survival mode’ - The Boston Globe," 24 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insolvent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.