English Reference

Word

foreclosure

Phoneticsfore·clo·sure

US/fɔɹˈkɫoʊʒɝ/

UK/fɔːklˈəʊʒɐ/

Definitions

01legal repossession of property

C1 · Law

n. the legal process where a bank takes away a house or building because the owner has stopped making payments.

n. the legal procedure by which a mortgagee or other lienholder terminates a mortgagor's equitable right of redemption after a default.

“After he lost his job, the bank started the foreclosure on his house.”

“The sudden increase in interest rates led to a wave of foreclosures across the suburban housing market as homeowners struggled to meet their monthly obligations.”

Technical

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'face', 'start', or 'prevent'.

Synonyms

repossessionseizuredivestment

02psychological term

C2 · Science

n. a technical term in psychology about how a child's mind develops without a father figure.

n. a psychoanalytic concept, particularly in Lacanian theory, referring to the exclusion of a fundamental signifier from the subject's symbolic universe.

“The professor explained how foreclosure differs from simple repression in psychology.”

“In his seminar, the analyst discussed foreclosure as a primary mechanism in the development of psychosis, distinguishing it from neurotic repression.”

Technical · Academic

Usage

Primarily used in the context of Lacanian psychoanalysis.

Synonyms

exclusionrepudiation

Real-World Examples

“As long-term office mortgages mature in a weaker leasing and higher-interest-rate environment, distressed buildings are increasingly unable to refinance, leading to a steady stream of foreclosures and discounted sales.”
Phys.org · 31 Aug 2026

Etymology

From foreclose by analogy with closure, equivalent to fore- + closure.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Law

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference