arrear

noun

ar·​rear ə-ˈrir 

1

: the state of being behind in the discharge of obligations

—usually used in plural

They were in arrears with the rent. [=they had failed to pay the rent when it was due]

2

a

: an unfinished duty

—usually used in plural

arrears of work that have piled up

b

: an unpaid and overdue debt

—usually used in plural

paying off the arrears of the past several months

Synonyms

• arrearage
• debt
• indebtedness
• liability
• liabilities
• obligation
• score

Examples of arrear in a Sentence

since it lost the discrimination lawsuit, the employer will have to pay the worker all arrears in salary

Recent Examples on the Web

The authorities have at times acknowledged those demands, such as in their promises to combat wage arrears for migrant workers, or provide holiday handouts to homeless people or people with disabilities. —Vivian Wang, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Any outstanding arrears will be paid by February, though that may come as cold comfort to the ex-employees who have been protesting to demand their factories’ reopening, including by allegedly setting a factory and several vehicles on fire. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

The policy recommends that owners be treated fairly and allowed reasonable time to pay their arrears, and that associations take into account key factors such as the length and amount of the delinquency. —Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

The total amount of money owed in arrears has swelled by roughly 30% over the past 12 months for electricity and natural gas customers, topping out around $21 billion by the end of September. —J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, in plural arrers, arrears "balance due, unpaid debt," borrowed from Anglo-French arere, arrere (also sometimes in plural) "state of being behind in payment," noun derivative of arere, ariere, adverb, "back, backward, behind" (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *ad retrō, from Latin ad "to, toward" + retrō "toward the rear, in the rear, behind" — more at at entry 1, retro-

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

arrear

noun

ar·​rear ə-ˈrir 

1

a

: the condition of being behind in one's duties or especially financial obligations

—usually used in pl.

in arrears with the rent

b

: the condition of being due at the end of a term rather than the beginning

—usually used in pl.

mortgage payments are made in arrears

2

: an unpaid and overdue debt

—usually used in pl.

paying off the arrears of the previous owners