# foreclosure

/fɔɹˈkɫoʊʒɝ/ (US) · /fɔːklˈəʊʒɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. legal repossession of property

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

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

### 2. psychological term

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Primarily used in the context of Lacanian psychoanalysis.

## Examples

- The family lost their home to foreclosure last month.
- After the factory closed, many local residents faced foreclosure as they struggled to meet their monthly mortgage obligations.
- The sudden spike in interest rates led to a wave of foreclosures, forcing the government to intervene with emergency legislation to protect vulnerable homeowners from immediate eviction.

---

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.