bankruptcy — the state of being unable to pay debts; complete failure or ruin
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the state of being unable to pay debts; complete failure or ruin
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/
Example Sentences
- After buying 500 lottery tickets, John was facing personal bankruptcy but still believed he'd win big tomorrow.
- The restaurant's bankruptcy was inevitable after they started serving ice cream soup as their signature dish.
- Many small businesses faced bankruptcy during the economic crisis.
bankruptcy
NOUN[/ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/]
the state of being unable to pay debts; complete failure or ruin

Lost everything due to bankruptcy

See the BANKRUPT — bankruptcy is plain to see. (BANK + RUPT + CY(SEE) → The BANK has RUPTured — and everyone can SEE it)

Bankruptcy hits abrupt — no warning, no way to interrupt.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Bankruptcy originates from Medieval Italian commercial practice, where merchants who lost their fortunes would have their trading tables (benches) broken or overturned in the marketplace as a public sign of insolvency. The term derives from the Italian words 'banca' (bench or money-changer's table) and 'rotta' (broken), reflecting this symbolic act of financial ruin.
Breakdown
banca (bench, money-changer's table) + rotta (broken, broken to pieces) = bankrupt; the suffix -cy transforms it into the abstract noun bankruptcy, denoting the state or condition of being bankrupt.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After buying 500 lottery tickets, John was facing personal bankruptcy but still believed he'd win big tomorrow.”
“The restaurant's bankruptcy was inevitable after they started serving ice cream soup as their signature dish.”
“Many small businesses faced bankruptcy during the economic crisis.”
“The company emerged from bankruptcy stronger than before.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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