liquidation

American  

[lik-wi-dey-shuhn] / ˌlɪk wɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process of realizing upon assets and of discharging liabilities in concluding the affairs of a business, estate, etc.

2. the process of converting securities or commodities into cash.

3. the state of being liquidated.

   an estate in liquidation.

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liquidation British  

/ ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. the process of terminating the affairs of a business firm, etc, by realizing its assets to discharge its liabilities

   2. the state of a business firm, etc, having its affairs so terminated (esp in the phrase to go into liquidation )

2. destruction; elimination

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liquidation Cultural  

1. The conversion of the assets of a firm into cash, often just before the firm goes out of business.

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Other Word Forms

• nonliquidation noun
• preliquidation noun
• reliquidation noun

Etymology

Origin of liquidation

First recorded in 1565–75; liquidate + -ion

Example Sentences

The data, instead, show a “crisis-driven liquidation by a handful of countries under severe currency pressure. It is not a structural shift away from gold reserves.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

The legal document protects a company from creditors for a short period, initially 10 business days, to either find a buyer, find an administrator, or enter liquidation.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Equity losses also triggered forced liquidation of metals to meet margin calls.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

The wipe-out in South Korean stocks is, Privorotsky points, essentially liquidation flows.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

The place had already been picked clean before the liquidation.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• clearance
• destruction
• eradication
• expulsion
• removal
• withdrawal