Arrears is defined as a situation when a person is behind on a deadline or has an unfinished obligation or business.
(noun)When a person is behind in their taxes, it is an example of being in arrears.
The definition of arrears is a past due debt or an unfulfilled obligation.
(noun)An example having arrears is when a credit card debt has been sent to a collection agency.
See arrears in Webster's New World College Dictionary
plural noun
Origin: ME arrers < arrere, backward < OFr ariere < VL aretro < L ad, to + retro, behind
See arrears in American Heritage Dictionary 4
plural noun
Origin:
Origin: Middle English arrers
Origin: , from arrere, behind
Origin: , from Old French arere
Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *ad retrō, backward
Origin: : Latin ad, to; see ad-
Origin: + Latin retrō, behind; see re- in Indo-European roots
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