Word
creditor
Phoneticscred·i·tor, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹɛdətɝ/
UK/kɹˈɛdɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person, bank, or company that you owe money to.
n. a person or business entity to whom a debt is owed for goods, services, or loans provided.
Examples
“The company owes a lot of money to its main creditor.”
“After the business failed, the owner met with every creditor to discuss a repayment plan.”
“The court-appointed liquidator must ensure that all remaining assets are distributed fairly among the secured creditors before any funds reach the shareholders.”
Examples
simple
“The company owes a lot of money to its main creditor.”
contextual
“After the business failed, the owner met with every creditor to discuss a repayment plan.”
complex
“The court-appointed liquidator must ensure that all remaining assets are distributed fairly among the secured creditors before any funds reach the shareholders.”
Usage
Often used in the plural when referring to the group of entities a failing business owes money to.
Pitfall
The creditor paid the loan back.
The debtor paid the loan back.
A creditor is the one who receives the money; the debtor is the one who pays it back.
Real-World Examples
“Critics say adults should be free to disappear if they choose and warn that police tracking powers would be exploited by creditors chasing debtors and by abusers looking for partners who have fled.” “The second is to ensure that creditors get repaid as much as possible for their loans.” Etymology
From Middle English creditour, from Anglo-Norman creditour, from Latin crēditor, from crēditum (“loan”), from crēditus, perfect passive participle of crēdō (“lend”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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- Formal, Technical
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