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

Other states allow creditors, at least in some cases, to claim a share of the property when only one joint owner is liable for the debt. —Bob Carlson, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Moyo said her credit dropped to zero after the bank contacted creditors with a death certificate number — and all four of her credit cards stopped working as a result. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025

British actors union Equity has written to a government regulator urging it to take action against Mad Dog 2020 Casting, a 25-year-old UK agency that collapsed last month owing creditors more than £1.5 million ($1.9 million). —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025

The official filing imposed an automatic stay on most collection activities, prohibiting creditors from suing, garnishing wages, repossessing property, or demanding repayment through mail or phone. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 6 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