insolvent

adjective

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

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Examples of insolvent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Bailing out insolvent financial institutions is inevitably political. — WSJ, "Considering Lehman’s Failure 10 Years Later," 19 Sep. 2018 All told, over 1,500 companies are said to have been deemed insolvent by the courts. — The Economist, "A new bankruptcy code is reshaping Indian business," 19 Apr. 2018 In its letter, Marble Ridge argues Neiman Marcus is insolvent, saying its debt load is 10 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. — Soma Biswas, WSJ, "Neiman Marcus Bondholder Criticizes Transfer of Valuable Online Business," 21 Sep. 2018 The pension insurer expects that plans covering roughly 1.3 million people will become insolvent in the next 20 years. — Tatyana Shumsky, WSJ, "PBGC’s Single-Employer Program Records First Surplus Since 2001," 16 Nov. 2018 Many of the plans could become insolvent over the next 20 years. — Joel Naroff, Philly.com, "The looming retirement crisis for public and private employees," 12 July 2018 The report from program trustees says Medicare will become insolvent in 2026 — three years earlier than previously forecast. — Richardo Alonso-zaldivar And Andrew Taylor, chicagotribune.com, "Medicare will run out of money in 2026, three years earlier than expected, government report says," 5 June 2018 They and related ones called multiemployer welfare arrangements have over the years been found to commit fraud and sometimes have become insolvent. — Amy Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump administration expands use of health plans that skirt ACA consumer protections," 19 June 2018 If ether's value falls, the system will become insolvent. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Basis—the “stable” cryptocurrency with $133 million invested—explained," 25 Apr. 2018

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.