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

Today, thanks to Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is in economic arrears. —Caleb Hofmann, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024

For example, the Leeds Building Society's work includes a simple, digital application process for borrowers seeking assistance as part of the U.K.’s Mortgage Charter initiative, and suspending arrears fees until at least January 2025. —Ian Wilding, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

The ruling Palestinian Authority has been pushed to the brink of outright financial collapse; a June analysis by the International Crisis Group found that its debt to commercial banks and its arrears to its own pension fund has mounted to as much as $11 billion. —Karen E. Young, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2024

Several months in arrears, Leslie and Adam had a confrontation in the lobby of the music shop. —Dan Koeppel, Outside Online, 5 Sep. 2019

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