forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈber-ən(t)s 

fər-

plural forbearances

1

: a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due

The policy provides a means of forbearance for borrowers meeting certain criteria.

2

: the act of forbearing : patience

Mrs Varden entreated her to remember that … marriage … was a state requiring great fortitude and forbearance.

—Charles Dickens

3

: the quality of being forbearing : leniency

known … for her forbearance with her incorrigible husband

—Willa Cather

Synonyms

• long-suffering
• patience
• sufferance
• tolerance

Examples of forbearance in a Sentence

He showed great forbearance in his dealings with them.

we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program

Recent Examples on the Web

Notably, a bankruptcy forbearance is listed as a qualifying forbearance in the department’s court filing, but it is expressly listed as non-qualifying on the department’s PSLF Buyback website. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Among borrowers who are now required to make payments — not including those who are in deferment or forbearance or are currently enrolled in school — nearly one in four student loan borrowers are behind in their payments, the New York Fed found. —Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 13 May 2025

Two years ago, Heartwood's son was born with a medical condition, and to treat it, Heartwood exhausted her savings and took out money from her 401K. During the pandemic, student loan payments were put into forbearance, but when repayments resumed last year, Heartwood said she was never notified. —Kelsie Hoffman, CBS News, 5 May 2025

But all that came unraveled for tens of thousands of vets like Conlon who were on what's known as a mortgage forbearance. —Chris Arnold , Quil Lawrence, NPR, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see forbear entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forbearance

• clarence

Kids Definition

forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈbar-ən(t)s 

fər-,

-ˈber-

1

: the act of forbearing

2

: the quality of being forbearing : patience

Legal Definition

forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance

variants also forebearance

fȯr-ˈbar-əns

: a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due