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arrears

Syllabification: (ar·rears)

Pronunciation: /əˈri(ə)rz/

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Definition of arrears

noun

money that is owed and should have been paid earlier:he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent

Phrases

in arrears: behind in paying money that is owed:two out of three tenants are in arrears; (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy:you will be paid monthly in arrears

Derivatives

arrearage

Origin:

Middle English (first used in the phrase in arrear): from arrear (adverb) 'behind, overdue', from Old French arere, from medieval Latin adretro, from ad- 'toward' + retro 'backward'

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Definition of arrears in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

arrears

noun

Phrases

in arrears

Derivatives

arrearage

Origin:

arrears in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for arrears

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