# debtor

/ˈdɛtɝ/ (US) · /dˈɛtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/debtor
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. one who owes money

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Technical

a person or business that owes money to another person or a bank.

For teachers: an entity that owes a financial obligation to a creditor. The term is standard in accounting and legal proceedings.

- The company struggled to pay its staff because a major debtor had not paid their bill.
- The court appointed a receiver to manage the assets of the debtor after they failed to meet the revised repayment schedule.

Usage: Commonly paired with 'creditor' as its functional opposite in financial reporting.

## Examples

- The debtor promised to pay back the loan by next month.
- If a debtor fails to make payments on time, the bank may take legal action to recover the funds.
- The international treaty aims to provide relief for any debtor nation struggling to meet its interest obligations due to sudden currency devaluation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.