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

But the forbearance period doesn’t count toward student loan forgiveness for IDR plans or for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

While the legal challenges against SAVE were playing out, the Biden administration put enrollees into an interest-free forbearance. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025

Kantrowitz also noted that switching to a new repayment plan will immediately end the interest-free forbearance that has been in place since the initial court injunction. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025

American Rebel Holdings is currently negotiating a forbearance or other cure for a default on its $2 million line of credit with Bank of America, which expired in February 2024. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see forbear entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forbearance

• clarence

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