bankrupt

1 of 3

noun

bank·​rupt ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəpt How to pronounce bankrupt (audio)
1
a
: a debtor (such as an individual or an organization) whose property is subject to voluntary or involuntary administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors
b
: a person who becomes insolvent
2
: a person who is completely lacking in a particular desirable quality or attribute
a moral bankrupt

bankrupt

2 of 3

adjective

1
a
: reduced to a state of financial ruin : impoverished
specifically : legally declared bankrupt
the company went bankrupt
b
: of or relating to bankrupts or bankruptcy
bankrupt laws
2
a
: broken, ruined
a bankrupt professional career
b
: exhausted of valuable qualities : sterile
a bankrupt old culture
c
: destitute
used with of or in
bankrupt of all merciful feelings

bankrupt

3 of 3

verb

bankrupted; bankrupting; bankrupts

transitive verb

1
: to reduce to bankruptcy
2
: impoverish
defections had bankrupted the party of its brainpower
Choose the Right Synonym for bankrupt

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of bankrupt in a Sentence

Noun As a lawyer, she specialized in working with bankrupts. Adjective The lawsuit could leave them bankrupt. the company's product development team was bankrupt of ideas Verb Several risky deals bankrupted the company. several bad investments bankrupted him
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The fight almost bankrupts the town of Shelby, Montana, which borrowed heavily to stage it. 1930 — Helen Wills Moody wins her fourth straight singles title at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elizabeth Ryan. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2023 The plan is intended to prevent the company from being dissolved, forced into liquidation or formally declared bankrupt. Michelle Toh, CNN, 19 May 2020
Adjective
States such as China, Brazil, and India are casting themselves as new alternatives to bankrupt Western leadership. Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024 At the same time, the Fed’s superfluous nature on the matter of inflation is a reminder that governments, not banks, cause inflation given their economically bankrupt belief that devaluation of the dollars individuals and businesses earn is somehow good for the economy. John Tamny, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
In other words, lawsuits that shut down investment and attempt to bankrupt Western energy majors won’t reduce fossil fuel production. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Thing is… Matty realizes, too late, that Senior quietly moved to bankrupt his developer client, making the settlement that Robert agreed to literally worthless (though other claimants will be made whole). Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bankrupt 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French banqueroute bankruptcy, from Old Italian bancarotta, from banca bank + rotta broken, from Latin rupta, feminine of ruptus, past participle of rumpere to break — more at bank, reave

First Known Use

Noun

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bankrupt was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near bankrupt

Cite this Entry

“Bankrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bankrupt. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bankrupt

1 of 3 noun
bank·​rupt ˈbaŋ-(ˌ)krəpt How to pronounce bankrupt (audio)
: an individual or group who becomes bankrupt
especially : one whose property by court order is turned over to be managed for the benefit of the creditors

bankrupt

2 of 3 adjective
1
: unable to pay one's debts
2
: legally declared bankrupt
the company went bankrupt

bankrupt

3 of 3 verb
: to make bankrupt

Legal Definition

bankrupt

1 of 3 noun
bank·​rupt ˈbaŋ-ˌkrəpt How to pronounce bankrupt (audio)
: a debtor (as an individual or organization) whose property is subject to administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors
was adjudicated a bankrupt
see also debtor

bankrupt

2 of 3 adjective
: ruined financially
especially : judicially declared a bankrupt
the company is bankrupt
compare insolvent

bankrupt

3 of 3 transitive verb
: to reduce to bankruptcy
was bankrupted by attorney's fees

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