creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-di-tər 

-ˌtȯr

: one to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due

Examples of creditor in a Sentence

She owes thousands of dollars to creditors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Across the state, more than 38,000 individuals and businesses filed for protection from creditors in 2025, up more than 20% from 31,520 a year earlier. —Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026

The settlement resolves creditor disputes and sets the stage for a potential cleanup, with an investor already negotiating to acquire the property. —Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026

The data includes accounts that former employees intentionally leave in their old plan, for example, to take advantage of lower fees or stronger creditor protections relative to IRAs. —Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026

The bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case will also scrutinize your paperwork and question you under oath at a meeting of creditors. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for creditor

• editor
• predator
• coeditor

Kids Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkred-ət-ər 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

Legal Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-də-tər, -ˌtȯr 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due compare debtor, obligor

— general creditor

: a creditor who is not secured by a lien or other security interest

called also unsecured creditor

— judgment creditor

: a creditor who has a money judgment entered against the debtor and may enforce the judgment (as by attachment or writ of execution)

— known creditor

: a creditor whose potential claim is known or should be known by a debtor and who is entitled to notice of a corporate dissolution or of a date at which claims will be barred (as in bankruptcy)

— lien creditor

: a creditor who is secured by a lien (as by attachment)

— secured creditor

: a creditor who has a security interest (as a mortgage)

— unsecured creditor

: general creditor in this entry