French word

faillite

Pronunciation

IPA/fajit/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbankruptcy

Example

La boutique a fait faillite l'année dernière.

The shop went bankrupt last year.

Illustration for faillite (bankruptcy)

More examples

Il a investi pour éviter la faillite de son entreprise.

He invested to avoid his company's bankruptcy.

Core concept

An empty shop or office marks the point where debts exceed the ability to pay.

Common phrases

  • éviter la faillite

    avoid bankruptcy

  • conséquences de la faillite

    consequences of bankruptcy

Similar words

banqueroute: Legal bankruptcy resulting from an inability to repay debts.
insolvabilité: A lack of solvency in which liabilities exceed assets and payments cannot be made.

Definition in French

État d'une personne ou d'une entreprise qui ne peut plus payer ses dettes.

Word origin

Faillite is formed from the Old French verb faillir and traces back to the Latin verb fallere, 'to fail'.

Usage tips

  • The common expression is faire faillite, while déposer le bilan refers more specifically to filing for insolvency.

Other meanings

  • failurenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word