insolvent

American  

[in-sol-vuhnt] / ɪnˈsɒl vənt /

adjective

1. not solvent; unable to satisfy creditors or discharge liabilities, either because liabilities exceed assets or because of inability to pay debts as they mature.

   Synonyms:

   bankrupt, impoverished, destitute, penniless

2. pertaining to bankrupt persons or bankruptcy.

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noun

1. a person who is insolvent.

insolvent British  

/ ɪnˈsɒlvənt /

adjective

1. (of a person, company, etc) having insufficient assets to meet debts and liabilities; bankrupt

2. of or relating to bankrupts or bankruptcy

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noun

1. a person who is insolvent; bankrupt

Other Word Forms

• insolvency noun

Etymology

Origin of insolvent

First recorded in 1585–95; in- ³ + solvent

Example Sentences

But given the implosion of the island’s economy, the insolvent government is desperate for investment and hard currency.

From The Wall Street Journal

She warned that capping ground rents risked leaving freeholders insolvent and unable to carry out their obligations to ensure fire safety and remove dangerous cladding.

From BBC

But like an insurance company, if a CDS seller has many claims to pay and not enough money to pay them, it becomes insolvent.

From Barron's

However, as oil production declines and fossil fuel companies increasingly become insolvent, California regulators worry taxpayers may have to assume the costs to plug these wells.

From Los Angeles Times

Social Security’s trust fund is currently projected to be insolvent in 2033.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• bankrupt
• broke
• failed
• indebted
• strapped