English edit

Etymology edit

Partial calque of Italian banca rotta, which refers to an out-of-business bank, having its bench physically broken. When a moneylender in Northern Italy became insolvent, they would break the bench they worked from to signify that they were no longer in business. (Vocabolario Etimologico della Lingua Italiano 1907)

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbæŋ.kɹəpt/, /ˈbæŋ.kɹʌpt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈbæŋk.ɹəpt/, /ˈbæŋk.ɹʌpt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æŋkɹəpt, -æŋkɹʌpt

Adjective edit

bankrupt (comparative more bankrupt, superlative most bankrupt)

  1. (finance) In a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay one's debts.
    a bankrupt merchant
  2. Having been legally declared insolvent.
  3. Destitute of, or wholly lacking (something once possessed, or something one should possess).
    a morally bankrupt politician

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

Verb edit

bankrupt (third-person singular simple present bankrupts, present participle bankrupting, simple past and past participle bankrupted)

  1. (transitive) To force into bankruptcy.

Translations edit

Noun edit

bankrupt (plural bankrupts)

  1. One who becomes unable to pay his or her debts; an insolvent person.
  2. (UK, law, obsolete) A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts tending to defraud his creditors.

Translations edit

References edit