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bankruptcythe 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
💡 Concept

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)
🧠 Mnemonic

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.
🎵 Rhyme

Bankruptcy hits abrupt — no warning, no way to interrupt.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/

🌳Etymology

Rootbankrupt
Suffix--cy

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

hypocrisydemocracyaristocracy
hypocrisy
democracy
aristocracy

🔗Collocations

file for bankruptcy
declare bankruptcy
bankruptcy court
bankruptcy protection
personal bankruptcy
moral bankruptcy

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

After buying 500 lottery tickets, John was facing personal bankruptcy but still believed he'd win big tomorrow.

😄 Fun example

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

insolvencyfinancial ruinfailurecollapseliquidation

Antonyms

prosperitysolvencysuccess

Related

debtcreditorassetsliabilitiesforeclosure

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