foreclosure

noun

fore·​clo·​sure (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklō-zhər 

: an act or instance of foreclosing

specifically : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate

Examples of foreclosure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His mother and father followed shortly thereafter, due to a threat of foreclosure on their home for not paying taxes. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Atop Nob Hill, the historic Huntington Hotel went into foreclosure and was later sold to a new owner at a steep discount. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025

The property was subject to a strict foreclosure in 2017, which Ambase is currently challenging in court. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2025

The house is currently being monitored by several advocacy groups, including Preservation Chicago and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, which are pushing for expedited foreclosure proceedings. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foreclosure

• nondisclosure
• postexposure
• closure
• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• composure
• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• exposure
• inclosure

Legal Definition

foreclosure

noun

fore·​clos·​ure fōr-ˈklō-zhər 

1

: a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's equity of redemption in mortgaged real property see also deficiency judgment at judgment, redeem, right of redemption, statutory foreclosure, strict foreclosure sense 1

2

: the extinguishment (as under the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the rights of a debtor in personal property subject to a security interest by judicial proceedings and especially by judicial sale see also strict foreclosure sense 2