bankrupt
BANGK-ruhpt
Bankrupt (adj) means Legally unable to pay one's debts. Example: “The company was declared bankrupt after years of falling sales.”
adj
1
Legally unable to pay one's debts.
"The company was declared bankrupt after years of falling sales."
"He went bankrupt trying to keep the restaurant open."
"The little shop went bankrupt when a large supermarket opened nearby."
verb
1
To cause someone or something to run out of money entirely.
"The lawsuit nearly bankrupted the small firm."
"Rising medical bills threatened to bankrupt the young family."
"A string of bad investments bankrupted the old publisher."
How to use bankrupt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFinancially ruined, unable to pay what is owed.
Common pairings
go bankrupt
declared bankrupt
bankrupt the company
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Word forms
- Plural
- bankrupts
- Third person singular
- bankrupts
- Past tense
- bankrupted
- Comparative
- more bankrupt
- Superlative
- most bankrupt
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company was declared _____ after years of falling sales.
Etymology
From Italian bancarotta, literally "broken bench" — moneylenders who could no longer pay their debts reportedly had their market bench physically broken to signal it publicly.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bankrupt” mean?
The word “bankrupt” means legally unable to pay one's debts. In plain terms, financially ruined, unable to pay what is owed.
How do you pronounce “bankrupt”?
“Bankrupt” is pronounced BANGK-ruhpt (/ˈbæŋk.ɹəpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bankrupt” in a sentence?
Here is “bankrupt” used in a sentence: “The company was declared bankrupt after years of falling sales.”
What part of speech is “bankrupt”?
Depending on how it is used, “bankrupt” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “bankrupt” come from?
The word “bankrupt” comes from Italian. From Italian bancarotta, literally "broken bench" — moneylenders who could no longer pay their debts reportedly had their market bench physically broken to signal it publicly.
Is “bankrupt” a common word?
“Bankrupt” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bankrupt” have?
“Bankrupt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: legally unable to pay one's debts.
What is the difference between bankrupt and insolvent?
Bankrupt specifically means legally unable to pay one's debts, often involving a formal legal declaration or process. Insolvent is a broader financial state of being unable to meet debt obligations, which may or may not have resulted in a formal bankruptcy filing.
Can bankrupt be used as a verb as well as an adjective?
Yes, bankrupt functions both as an adjective meaning legally unable to pay one's debts, and as a verb meaning to cause someone or something to run out of money entirely, as in 'the lawsuit bankrupted the company.'
What does it mean to bankrupt a company?
To bankrupt a company means to cause it to run out of money entirely, often through mismanagement, debt, or an overwhelming financial loss. This verb usage describes the action that leads to the state of being bankrupt.
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