debtor
nounUK /ˈdɛt.ə/ · US /ˈdɛt.ɚ/
Etymology From Middle English dettour, from Old French detour, from Latin debitor, equivalent to debt + -or. Doublet of debitor. Displaced native Old English *sċola.
1
Economics, Sciences A person or firm that owes money; one in debt; one who owes a debt.
- The debtor agreed to repay the loan within six months.
- The law protects both the debtor and the creditor.
2
Law One who owes another anything, or is under obligation, arising from express agreement, implication of law, or principles of natural justice, to pay money or to fulfill some other obligation; in bankruptcy or similar proceedings, the person who is the subject of the proceeding.
- As a debtor, he faced constant letters from the bank.
- O! to Grace how great a Debtor, Daily I'm conſtrain'd to be;1759, Robert Robinson, “Hymn I”, in A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Church of Christ: Meeting in Angel-Alley, Whitechappel, Margaret-Street, near Oxford-Market, and other churches in fellowship with them, London:
- Derived terms
- codebtor, debtor in possession, debtorship, homedebtor, nondebtor, zombie debtor