escheat

1 of 2

noun

es·​cheat is-ˈchēt How to pronounce escheat (audio)
ish-ˈchēt
1
: escheated property
2
a
: the reversion of lands in English feudal law to the lord of the fee when there are no heirs capable of inheriting under the original grant
b
: the reversion of property to the crown in England or to the state in the U.S. when there are no legal heirs

escheat

2 of 2

verb

escheated; escheating; escheats

transitive verb

: to cause to revert by escheat

intransitive verb

: to revert by escheat
escheatable adjective

Examples of escheat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Michigan had a record $42.8 million in escheat in 2018 — and that number could soar this year, as residents for nearly three months were prohibited from returning bottles and cans because of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's emergency orders in late March related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2020 That is the general escheat rule for personal property. Dallas News, 16 Jan. 2022 Another thing to keep in mind is that escheat doesn't change your tax obligations. Charles Read, Forbes, 16 Apr. 2021 The state Treasury Department collects unclaimed deposits, known as escheat, with 75% of the money going to the state's Cleanup and Redevelopment Trust Fund and the other 25% returned to retailers. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2020
Verb
In Texas, unlike many other states, unclaimed property does not generally escheat to the state. Wesley E. Wright, Houston Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escheat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English eschete, from Anglo-French, reversion of property, from escheir to fall, devolve, from Vulgar Latin *excadēre, from Latin ex- + Vulgar Latin *cadēre to fall, from Latin cadere — more at chance

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of escheat was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near escheat

Cite this Entry

“Escheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escheat. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

escheat

1 of 2 noun
es·​cheat is-ˈchēt How to pronounce escheat (audio)
1
: escheated property
2
: the reversion of property to the state upon the death of the owner when there are no heirs

escheat

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to cause to revert by escheat

intransitive verb

: to revert by escheat
escheatable adjective
Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French eschete reversion of property, from Old French escheoite accession, inheritance, from feminine past participle of escheoir to fall (to), befall, ultimately from Latin ex- out + cadere to fall

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