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borrower

A1
noun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /bˈɒrəʊə/

US

  • /ˈbɑroʊər/

Description

Imagine you're building an amazing fort, but you’re short on blankets. You ask a neighbor if you can borrow a few—and for that moment, you’re the borrower. In plain terms, a *borrower* is someone who takes something belonging to another person or institution and uses it only temporarily, with the understanding that it will be returned or paid back.

People are borrowers when they check out library books, use a tool for a weekend, or get money from a lender. Companies and governments are borrowers too when they take loans and agree to repay them on schedule. The key point is responsibility: a good borrower follows through on promises; a poor borrower may struggle to get credit later.

Examples

  1. 1

    Library books

    Each borrower has to show ID before taking books out of the library.

  2. 2

    Mortgage application

    The bank checks a borrower’s income before approving a mortgage.

  3. 3

    Missed payments

    If a borrower misses several payments, the lender may charge extra fees.

  4. 4

    Student loans

    Many student borrowers are worried about how long it will take to repay their loans.

  5. 5

    Corporate debt

    The company is seen as a risky borrower because it already has a lot of debt.

Forms and spellings

2 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • borrowernoun

Forms

  • borrowerspluralnoun