forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈber-ən(t)s 

fər-

plural forbearances

1

: a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due

The policy provides a means of forbearance for borrowers meeting certain criteria.

2

: the act of forbearing : patience

Mrs Varden entreated her to remember that … marriage … was a state requiring great fortitude and forbearance.

—Charles Dickens

3

: the quality of being forbearing : leniency

known … for her forbearance with her incorrigible husband

—Willa Cather

Synonyms

• long-suffering
• patience
• sufferance
• tolerance

Examples of forbearance in a Sentence

He showed great forbearance in his dealings with them.

we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, borrowers who had enrolled in, or applied to, SAVE have been put into a forbearance. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Those who signed up for the plan are excused from their monthly payments and will be put in an interest-free general forbearance, a spokesperson for the agency told CBS MoneyWatch. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024

At this time, that essentially means the loan will be put into a forbearance due to ongoing litigation. —Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024

No credit toward forgiveness Unlike during other payment pauses on student loans, months during this forbearance will not count toward borrowers’ timeline to loan forgiveness. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see forbear entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈbar-ən(t)s 

fər-,

-ˈber-

1

: the act of forbearing

2

: the quality of being forbearing : patience

Legal Definition

forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance

variants also forebearance

fȯr-ˈbar-əns

: a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due