foreclosure

noun

fore·​clo·​sure (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce foreclosure (audio)
: an act or instance of foreclosing
specifically : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate

Examples of foreclosure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Records viewed at PropertyShark show lenders repeatedly initiated foreclosure proceedings, recording notices of default and trustee sales before canceling those actions and later filing additional defaults since 2021. — Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 30 July 2026 Polizzi, a single mother of an 8-year-old boy and two 17-year-old girls, was joining a growing number of Americans going through the foreclosure process. — Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 29 July 2026 The steady rise in foreclosure filings suggests distressed inventory and demand for fast-closing financing may continue to expand even as insurance costs keep some investors on the sidelines. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Jeffrey Baldwin, who founded an advocacy group after fighting his own foreclosure battle, argued a complaint system without enforcement powers would do little to help homeowners facing disputes. — Nora O'Neill 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for foreclosure

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreclosure was in 1713

Rhymes for foreclosure

See All Rhymes for foreclosure

Browse Nearby Words

foreclose
foreclosure
foreconceive
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Cite this Entry

“Foreclosure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreclosure. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

foreclosure

noun
fore·​clos·​ure fōr-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce foreclosure (audio)
1
: a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's equity of redemption in mortgaged real property see also deficiency judgment at judgment, redeem, right of redemption, statutory foreclosure, strict foreclosure sense 1
2
: the extinguishment (as under the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the rights of a debtor in personal property subject to a security interest by judicial proceedings and especially by judicial sale see also strict foreclosure sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on foreclosure

Nglish: Translation of foreclosure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foreclosure

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