Added 9 October 2026
foreclose
/fɔːˈkləʊz/ verb
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about foreclose at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To repossess a mortgaged property whose owner has failed to make the necessary payments; used with on.
They have to move out of their house because the bank foreclosed on their mortgage.
- To cut off (a mortgager) by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises.
- To shut up or out; to prevent from doing something.
Origin
Partially from Middle English foreclosen, forclosen, from Old French forclos, past participle of forclore (“to exclude”), from for- (“(prefix used to express error, exclusion, or inadequacy)”) + clore (“to shut”), and partially from Middle English forclusen (“to close up”), from Old English forclȳsan (“to close up”), equivalent to fore- + close.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)