the state of being behind or late, especially in the fulfillment of a duty, promise, obligation, or the like:
Many homeowners have fallen into arrears.
2.
Sometimes, arrear. something overdue in payment; a debt that remains unpaid:
Those countries that have paid their arrears may be granted additional loans.
Idioms
3.
in arrears, behind or late, especially in payment:
She was three months in arrears on her mortgage and credit card payments.
Also, Chiefly Law, in arrear.
Origin
1300-50; noun use of arrear (adv., now obsolete), Middle Englisharere behind < Middle French ≪ Latinad retrō. See ad-, retro-
Related forms
arrearage, noun
British Dictionary definitions for in arrears
arrears
/əˈrɪəz/
noun
1.
(sometimes sing) Also called arrearage (əˈrɪərɪdʒ). something outstanding or owed
2.
in arrears, in arrear, late in paying a debt or meeting an obligation
Word Origin
C18: from obsolete arrear (adv) behindhand, from Old French arere, from Medieval Latin adretrō, from Latin ad to + retrō backwards
Word Origin and History for in arrears
arrears
n.
mid-14c., "in times past," from Old French ariere "behind, backward," from Vulgar Latin *ad retro, from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + retro "behind" (see retro-). Meaning "balance due" dates from early 15c.; phrase in arrears first recorded 1610s, but in arrearages is from late 14c.
Idioms and Phrases with in arrears
in arrears
Late or behind, especially in payment of money. For example, He's been in arrears on his rent so often that he may be evicted. [ First half of 1600s ]