bankruptcy

noun

bank·​rupt·​cy ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəp(t)-sē How to pronounce bankruptcy (audio)
plural bankruptcies
1
: the quality or state of being bankrupt
2
: utter failure or impoverishment

Examples of bankruptcy in a Sentence

The company is facing bankruptcy. The company was forced into bankruptcy. The number of bankruptcies was especially high last year. Critics view the decision as an example of moral bankruptcy on the part of the administration.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Filings show that as many as 58 homebuyers have been affected by the company's sudden bankruptcy filing, as reported by Realtor.com. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 Rising Consumer Debt From a consumer standpoint, individual bankruptcy filings in March reached a level not previously seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. Jonathan Carson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 Getty Images a bankruptcy filing don’t favor gutting US Clears Way for Tariffs on $13 Billion of Solar Imports Enphase Energy Explore this year's list. Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 May 2025 Issuers must prioritize stablecoin holders for repayment in case of bankruptcy. Medora Lee, USA Today, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bankruptcy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bankruptcy was circa 1634

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Cite this Entry

“Bankruptcy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bankruptcy. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

bankruptcy

noun
bank·​rupt·​cy ˈbaŋ-(ˌ)krəp-(t)sē How to pronounce bankruptcy (audio)
plural bankruptcies
: the condition of being bankrupt

Legal Definition

bankruptcy

noun
bank·​rupt·​cy ˈbaŋ-ˌkrəp-sē How to pronounce bankruptcy (audio)
plural bankruptcies
1
: the quality or state of a bankrupt
filed for bankruptcy
2
: the administration of an insolvent debtor's property by the court for the benefit of the debtor's creditors
the debt was discharged in bankruptcy
bankruptcy proceedings
see also adequate protection, Bankruptcy Code compare insolvency, receivership

Note: Bankruptcy protects the debtor from debt collection by creditors. A debtor may file for bankruptcy, which is called “voluntary bankruptcy,” or a creditor may petition the court to declare the debtor bankrupt, which is called “involuntary bankruptcy.” Involuntary bankruptcy is allowed only under chapter 7 or chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. There are four types of relief available to individuals or corporations under the Bankruptcy Code: liquidation (chapter 7), reorganization (chapter 11), debt adjustment for a family farmer or fisherman (chapter 12), and debt adjustment for an individual with a regular income (chapter 13). Municipalities may file for bankruptcy under chapter 9. The court determines which debts are to be repaid according to their priority, and the debtor is typically granted a discharge from unpaid debts that are dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code.

More from Merriam-Webster on bankruptcy

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