debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈde-tər 

1

: one guilty of neglect or violation of duty

2

: one who owes a debt

Examples of debtor in a Sentence

The debtor agrees to pay the debt over a three-year period.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Colorado, 33% of debtors now cite everyday expenses – groceries, utilities and childcare – as the primary reason for their debt. —Ali Besharat, The Conversation, 4 June 2026

If a judgment is granted, creditors may seek remedies such as bank account levies or wage garnishment if the debtor is still working, though their ability to do that is still heavily dependent on state and federal laws. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 June 2026

With a single-member LLC, the unities are inherently present since the debtor both owns and controls the LLC. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 case was filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, with the company’s lenders agreeing to provide $75 million in debtor-in-process financing. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for debtor

• better
• bettor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petter
• rhetor
• setter
• sweater
• tetter
• vetter

Kids Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or ˈdet-ər 

1

: sinner

2

: one that owes a debt

Legal Definition

debtor

noun

debt·​or

: a person who owes a debt see also bankrupt compare creditor, obligee, obligor

Note: The Bankruptcy Act of 1978 calls the person concerned in a bankruptcy case the “debtor” as opposed to the “bankrupt.”