creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-di-tər 

-ˌtȯr

: one to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due

Examples of creditor in a Sentence

She owes thousands of dollars to creditors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Settlements often go more smoothly when your debts are with their original creditors rather than collection agencies. —Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025

The support of the IMF and Sri Lanka’s bilateral creditors like India was critical in ensuring that Sri Lanka’s dangerous descent was reversed. —Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

If a creditor can't sue under state law to set aside a transfer, the bankruptcy trustee shouldn't be able to either. ... —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

Chapter 11 Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include: B&B Outdoor LLC, 117 W. Palmetto Ave., Pierson. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for creditor

• editor
• predator
• coeditor

Kids Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkred-ət-ər 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

Legal Definition

creditor

noun

cred·​i·​tor ˈkre-də-tər, -ˌtȯr 

: a person to whom a debt is owed

especially : a person to whom money or goods are due compare debtor, obligor

— general creditor

: a creditor who is not secured by a lien or other security interest

called also unsecured creditor

— judgment creditor

: a creditor who has a money judgment entered against the debtor and may enforce the judgment (as by attachment or writ of execution)

— known creditor

: a creditor whose potential claim is known or should be known by a debtor and who is entitled to notice of a corporate dissolution or of a date at which claims will be barred (as in bankruptcy)

— lien creditor

: a creditor who is secured by a lien (as by attachment)

— secured creditor

: a creditor who has a security interest (as a mortgage)

— unsecured creditor

: general creditor in this entry