arrears

Everyday

1. Money that is owed and should have been paid already: rent arrears. tree →
2. In arrears: late with payments that are owed. tree →
3. Paid in arrears: paid at the end of a period of work, not at the start. tree →

In the lessons

A formal money word in news, letters and exam problems; in maths it means the amount still owed and not yet paid. Phrases: in arrears, rent arrears, fall into arrears, pay off the arrears, paid in arrears.

Examples

• The family fell into arrears with the rent. tree →
• (formal) The club is two months in arrears with its payments. tree →
• He paid off all his arrears by the summer. tree →
• Workers are paid monthly in arrears, at the end of each month. tree →
• If the rent is 500 dollars a month and two months are unpaid, the arrears are 1,000 dollars. tree →
• The letter said the electricity bill was in arrears. tree →

Note

Always plural, with no singular form: "the arrears are". Formal. "In arrears" means behind with paying. In maths, arrears = amount owed minus amount paid so far.