verb
welch
wehlch
verb
1
To fail to pay a debt or honor a promise, especially a bet.
"He welched on the bet and never paid up."
"Investors were furious after the company welched on its promised dividend."
How to Use Welch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo back out of paying money you owe or a promise you made.
Common mistake
Some people avoid this word because of its possible link to the ethnonym "Welsh"; "renege" or "default" are safe, neutral alternatives.
Common pairings
welch on a bet
welch on a deal
welch on a promise
Word Forms
welched past tense, welches plural, welches singular
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Etymology
An alternative spelling of "welsh" (in the sense "to fail to pay a debt"), originally from the ethnic term Welsh — the connection to the Welsh people is unclear and the usage is now considered by many to be offensive in origin, though it survives mainly as a set phrase.