Meanings
nounarrearage (countable and uncountable, plural arrearages)
plural arrearages
- countableuncountableThe condition of being in arrears.
- countableuncountableAn item that is in arrears, as periodic payments on a debt or for taxes.
“We’ve had maybe one or two arrearages on a regular basis since 2006 when I got on the board,” said Marc Held, a member until December.
2009 February 8, Teri Karush Rogers, “A Condo Toughens Its Stance and Tightens Its Belt”, in New York Times
Origin
- Old Frencharierage“detriment, legal prejudice”
- Middle Englisharrerage
- Englisharrearage
From Middle English arrerage, from Old French arierage (“detriment, legal prejudice”).
More words from Middle English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech prodlení, nedoplatek
- prodlenícondition of being in arrears
- nedoplatekitem in arrears
- dluhitem in arrears
Cite this entry
APA
arrearage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arrearage
MLA
“arrearage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arrearage. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “arrearage,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arrearage.
Source: arrearage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.