bankrupted
|bank-rupt-ed|
/ˈbæŋ.krʌpt/
(bankrupt)
financially ruined
Etymology
'bankrupt' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'bancarotta' (from earlier 'banca rotta'), where 'banca' meant 'bench' and 'rotta' meant 'broken'.
'bankrupt' changed from Italian 'bancarotta' / 'banca rotta' into Middle French 'banqueroute' and Middle English forms like 'bankrout', eventually becoming the modern English word 'bankrupt'.
Initially it referred to a 'broken bench' (the practice of breaking a moneylender's bench to show they had failed), but over time it evolved to mean 'financially ruined' or 'unable to pay debts'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'bankrupt'.
The small chain was bankrupted by a sudden drop in sales.
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Verb 2
caused (a person or company) to become unable to pay debts; put into bankruptcy.
Irresponsible lending bankrupted several local businesses.
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Adjective 1
having been declared bankrupt or left financially ruined (used after nouns or with 'be').
After bad investments he was bankrupted and had to sell his home.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 05:24