in·sol·vent
(ˌ)in-ˈsäl-vənt 
-ˈsȯl-
1
a
: unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business
b
: having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
2
: insufficient to pay all debts
an insolvent estate
plural insolvents
: an insolvent debtor : a person or entity that is unable to pay debts as they fall due
The country's newspapers regularly published legal notices that announced private assignments for the benefit of creditors, the attachments by creditors against the property of absconding debtors, and court-mandated auctions of assets owned by insolvents.—
Edward J. Balleisen
Edward J. BalleisenExamples of insolvent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
True Tamplin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Worries mounted the station would be insolvent by January 2024.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
Kristian Burt, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
Trump's change would make Social Security’s retirement trust fund insolvent more thanone year earlier – in early 2032 instead of late 2033 -- and the initial 21% cut across the board would deepen to a 25% cut, CRFB said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for insolvent
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Adjective
Imagine paying insurance premiums for years, expecting financial protection in times of need, only to discover that your insurer has been deemed insolvent.
—True Tamplin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Worries mounted the station would be insolvent by January 2024.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
The group found that Trump’s agenda would make the government program insolvent in six years, shrinking the current timeline by a third, and expanding Social Security’s cash shortfall by trillions of dollars.
5.
—Kristian Burt, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
Trump's change would make Social Security’s retirement trust fund insolvent more thanone year earlier – in early 2032 instead of late 2033 -- and the initial 21% cut across the board would deepen to a 25% cut, CRFB said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for insolvent
Cite this Entry
“Insolvent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insolvent. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insolvent
adjective
in·sol·vent
(ˈ)in-ˈsäl-vənt
: not having or providing enough money to pay debts
an insolvent company
Legal Definition
insolvent
adjective
in·sol·vent
in-ˈsäl-vənt
1
: having ceased paying or unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business compare bankrupt
2
: having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
3
: insufficient to pay all debts
an insolvent estate
insolvent
noun
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