bankrupt

[ bangk-ruhpt, -ruhpt ]

noun

1. Law. a person who upon their own petition or that of their creditors is adjudged insolvent by a court and whose property is administered for and divided among their creditors under a bankruptcy law.
2. any insolvent debtor; a person unable to satisfy any just claims made upon them.
3. a person who is lacking in a particular thing or quality:

   a moral bankrupt.

adjective

1. Law. subject to or under legal process because of insolvency; insolvent.

   Synonyms: impoverished, destitute

2. at the end of one's resources; lacking (usually followed by of or in ):

   bankrupt of compassion;

   bankrupt in good manners.

3. related to the act or process of being adjudged insolvent by a court and having one's property andministered for and divided among one's creditors.

verb (used with object)

1. to make insolvent:

   His embezzlement bankrupted the company.

bankrupt

/ ˈbæŋkrʌpt; -rəpt /

noun

1. a person adjudged insolvent by a court, his or her property being transferred to a trustee and administered for the benefit of his creditors
2. any person unable to discharge all his or her debts
3. a person whose resources in a certain field are exhausted or nonexistent

   a spiritual bankrupt

adjective

1. adjudged insolvent
2. financially ruined
3. depleted in resources or having completely failed

   spiritually bankrupt

4. foll by of lacking

   bankrupt of intelligence

verb

1. tr to make bankrupt

Other Words From

• pseudo·bankrupt adjective
• quasi-bankrupt adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bankrupt¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin banca rupta “bank broken”; replacing adaptations of Italian banca rota and French banqueroute in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of bankrupt¹

C16: from Old French banqueroute , from Old Italian bancarotta , from banca bank ¹+ rotta broken, from Latin ruptus , from rumpere to break

Example Sentences

He instead bankrupted his country with a horrific war that eventually led to much of the nation being bombed into oblivion.

From Salon

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said England's care system was "bankrupting councils, letting families down, and above all, leaving too many children feeling forgotten, powerless and invisible".

From BBC

Emphasizing the ephemeral nature of the rankings, Dr. Sasse added, “U.S. News & World Report could go bankrupt or they could change their algorithms.”

From New York Times

The unitary council in south Essex became effectively bankrupt two years ago after it borrowed and invested hundreds of millions and racked up a £1.5bn debt.

From BBC

Kat McNamara, an independent politician who opposed the bill, told the crowd: "The idea that in order to support a 10-year-old you have to criminalise them is irrational, ineffective and morally bankrupt."

From BBC

Related Words

• broke
• destitute
• failed
• insolvent