receivership

noun

re·​ceiv·​er·​ship ri-ˈsē-vər-ˌship 

1

: the office or function of a receiver

2

: the state of being in the hands of a receiver

Examples of receivership in a Sentence

Years of financial difficulty eventually placed the company into receivership.

Recent Examples on the Web

In downtown Hartford, there are five major office towers — two on Constitution Plaza — either in foreclosure or receivership, some the casualty of lenders unwilling to refinance mortgages in a shaky office leasing market both in Hartford and nationally. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2025

The contempt ruling opened the door to a federal receivership of Rikers Island, a remedy long supported by detainee advocates, strongly opposed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and characterized by the court as an option of last resort. —Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025

Additionally, a decades-old receivership over CCHCS requires the state to provide a certain level of medical care. —Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2025

As a Jackson County judge continues to debate the potential sale of Independence Towers after a year-long receivership, tenants remain worried that they will not be heard — or protected — by the terms of the sale. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for receivership

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• citizenship
• companionship
• copartnership
• dictatorship
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship

Kids Definition

receivership

noun

re·​ceiv·​er·​ship ri-ˈsē-vər-ˌship 

1

: the office or role of a receiver

2

: the state of being in the control of a receiver

Legal Definition

receivership

noun

re·​ceiv·​er·​ship ri-ˈsē-vər-ˌship 

1

: the office or function of a receiver

2

: a proceeding in which a receiver is appointed

3

: the state of being in the hands of a receiver compare bankruptcy