debt

bankruptcy

A legal process where a person or business that cannot repay their debts seeks relief from some or all of their obligations.

Example

"After years of losses, the company filed for bankruptcy and was restructured under court supervision."

💡 Memory Tip

BANK-ruptcy — the bank is rupt (broken). Your financial bank is broken.

Etymology

From Italian 'banca rotta' meaning 'broken bench' — moneylenders' benches were broken when they failed.

Common Misspellings

bankrupcybankrupcybankruptsybankrupcybanckruptcy

Related Terms

debt

See Also

insolvencyliquidationChapter 7Chapter 11

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