bank·rupt
ˈbaŋk-(ˌ)rəpt 
1
a
: a debtor (such as an individual or an organization) whose property is subject to voluntary or involuntary administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors
b
: a person who becomes insolvent
2
: a person who is completely lacking in a particular desirable quality or attribute
a moral bankrupt
1
a
: reduced to a state of financial ruin : impoverished
specifically
: legally declared bankrupt
the company went bankrupt
b
: of or relating to bankrupts or bankruptcy
bankrupt laws
bankrupted; bankrupting; bankrupts
1
: to reduce to bankruptcy
2
: impoverish
defections had bankrupted the party of its brainpower
Examples of bankrupt in a Sentence
Noun
As a lawyer, she specialized in working with bankrupts.
Adjective
The lawsuit could leave them bankrupt.
the company's product development team was bankrupt of ideas
Verb
Several risky deals bankrupted the company.
several bad investments bankrupted him
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
The fight almost bankrupts the town of Shelby, Montana, which borrowed heavily to stage it.
1930 — Helen Wills Moody wins her fourth straight singles title at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elizabeth Ryan.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The story centers on Zha, a janitor at a bankrupt, long-shuttered film studio who retreats into a virtual world, cultivating an online romance and dreaming of a voyage to the Moon.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Arturo Holmes | Getty Images Authentic generates about $38 billion in systemwide retail sales and has become a major force in the retail industry, known for buying the intellectual property behind popular brands that are distressed or bankrupt and licensing that IP for lucrative royalties.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bankrupt
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Noun
But getting sick bankrupts many families.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
The fight almost bankrupts the town of Shelby, Montana, which borrowed heavily to stage it.
1930 — Helen Wills Moody wins her fourth straight singles title at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Elizabeth Ryan.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Adjective
In 1931 Arthur Hammerstein went bankrupt during the Great Depression and was forced to sell.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
The story centers on Zha, a janitor at a bankrupt, long-shuttered film studio who retreats into a virtual world, cultivating an online romance and dreaming of a voyage to the Moon.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 May 2026
Verb
He is relieved is working at a plant in Elkhart, Indiana which was once a 100-year-old family business, and was bought by a new investor who has nearly bankrupted it in two years.
—Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Arturo Holmes | Getty Images Authentic generates about $38 billion in systemwide retail sales and has become a major force in the retail industry, known for buying the intellectual property behind popular brands that are distressed or bankrupt and licensing that IP for lucrative royalties.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bankrupt
Cite this Entry
“Bankrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bankrupt. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bankrupt
1 of 3 noun
bank·rupt
ˈbaŋ-(ˌ)krəpt
: an individual or group who becomes bankrupt
especially
: one whose property by court order is turned over to be managed for the benefit of the creditors
bankrupt
2 of 3 adjective1
: unable to pay one's debts
2
: legally declared bankrupt
the company went bankrupt
bankrupt
3 of 3 verb
: to make bankrupt
Legal Definition
bankrupt
1 of 3 noun
bank·rupt
ˈbaŋ-ˌkrəpt
: a debtor (as an individual or organization) whose property is subject to administration under the bankruptcy laws for the benefit of the debtor's creditors
was adjudicated a bankrupt
see also debtor
bankrupt
2 of 3 adjective
: ruined financially
bankrupt
3 of 3 transitive verb
: to reduce to bankruptcy
was bankrupted by attorney's fees
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