preforeclosure

P3R1E1F4O1R1E1C3L1O1S1U1R1E1
/ˌpɹiːfɔːɹˈkləʊ.ʒəɹ/

noun

The stage at which preparations are made for foreclosure

OriginEnglish foreclosure ← Middle English pre- ← Latin prae- →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounpreforeclosure (countable and uncountable, plural preforeclosures)

plural preforeclosures

  1. countableuncountableThe stage at which preparations are made for foreclosure

    Typically, owners who have missed three mortgage payments or more and whose lenders have filed suit are considered to be in preforeclosure.

    2007 October 14, Christine Haughney, “Brooklyn: A Bargain Hunter’s Guide”, in New York Times

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*préh₂i?
  4. Proto-Italic*prai
  5. Proto-Italic*prai-
  6. Latinprae-
  7. Middle Englishpre-
  8. Englishpre-
  9. Englishforeclosure
  10. Englishpreforeclosure

From pre- + foreclosure.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

preforeclosure. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/preforeclosure

MLA

“preforeclosure.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/preforeclosure. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “preforeclosure,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/preforeclosure.

Source: preforeclosure on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.