debtor

UK: /ˈdɛtə^r/ US: (det′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

debt•or  (det′ər), n. 

1. a person who is in debt or under financial obligation to another (opposed to creditor).

• Latin dēbitōr-, stem of dēbitor, equivalent. to dēbi-, variant stem of dēbēre (see debt) + -tor -tor
• Anglo-French dett(o)ur, de(b)tour, Old French det(t)or
• Middle English detto(u)r 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

debtor / ˈdɛtə/ noun

1. a person or commercial enterprise that owes a financial obligation
   Compare creditor

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

debt /dɛt/   n. 

1. something that is owed or that one should pay to another:
   [countable] We owe him a great debt of gratitude for his help.
2. an obligation to pay or perform something:
   [uncountable] He was in debt to the amount of $200,000.

deb•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

debt  (det), n. 

1. something that is owed or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another:
   a debt of $50.
2. a liability or obligation to pay or render something:
   My debt to her for advice is not to be discharged easily.
3. the condition of being under such an obligation:
   His gambling losses put him deeply in debt.
4. Religion [Theol.] an offense requiring reparation;
   a sin;
   a trespass.

• Latin dēbita (neuter plural, taken in Vulgar Latin as feminine singular), noun, nominal use of dēbitus, past participle of dēbēre to owe, contraction of *dēhabēre, equivalent. to dē- de- + habēre to have, possess
• Old French
• Middle English dette 1175–1225

debt′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. obligation, duty, due.