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

Liverano — whose criminal history spans 40 years and includes a manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting a night security guard at a Bensonhurst diner — is accused of running a loanshark business that used threats of violence to make sure debtors paid up. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026

Last week, it was revealed in a bankruptcy court hearing that Spirit skipped an interest payment, which could put the airline in default on its debtor-in-possession agreement with creditors. —Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026

And in between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

It is required to be erased from credit reports after seven years; some debtors’ attorneys send anniversary reminders, reminiscent of dentists soliciting tooth cleanings. —George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for debtor

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

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.”