WordGarden.iodefaulter
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪfˈɒltə/
US
- /dɪˈfɔltər/
Meanings
Noun
a person or organization that fails to repay a debt or make required payments
Beyond the definition
Imagine a borrower promises to repay a loan each month. If they miss the payments and stop paying what they owe, they become a defaulter. The word is used most often for money matters: loans, bills, rents, or taxes. A country that stops paying international debt can also be a defaulter. In many places, missing required legal duties can put someone in default too. Think of a defaulter as someone who broke a clear promise and has not met a formal commitment.
The term defaulter refers to a person or organization that does not meet a legal, financial, or contractual duty, most commonly tied to unpaid debt. Banks, lenders, and credit systems use it for borrowers who repeatedly miss payments on loans, credit cards, mortgages, or taxes. Reaching a certain level of missed payments can lead to official consequences: collection action, fines, court cases, and damage to credit or reputation.
The word can also be used more broadly for non-payment duties, especially in legal settings. If someone ignores a court summons, misses legal filing deadlines, or fails to do what a judgment requires, they can be described as having defaulted, and may face penalties even if they are not yet called a "defaulter" in common speech.
Because it usually points to a serious failure of duty, the tone is negative. It suggests a person or group has broken trust by not honoring a promise they were expected to keep.
Examples
- 1
Loan payments
If you miss several loan payments, the bank may list you as a defaulter.
- 2
Tax context
The newspaper reported that several major tax defaulters had left the country.
- 3
Rent payments
Tenants who fail to pay rent for two months can be declared defaulters.
- Patternbe declared a defaulter
be officially named as one
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- defaulternoun
Forms
- defaulterspluralnoun