French word

liquider

Pronunciation

IPA/likide/

Meaning

  • verbpay off

Example

Il faut liquider cette dette rapidement.

This debt has to be paid off quickly.

Illustration for liquider (pay off)

More examples

J'ai liquidé la facture hier.

I paid the bill yesterday.

Core concept

A ledger being emptied until no financial or operational loose ends remain.

Common phrases

  • liquider une facture

    pay a bill

  • liquider une dette

    pay off a debt

  • liquider son compte

    close one's account

Similar words

régler: Resolve a bill or dispute, often by making the required payment.
payer: Give money in payment for a service or product.
rembourser: Return borrowed money or repay an amount previously paid.

Definition in French

Mettre fin aux engagements financiers d'une entreprise ou d'une personne en réglant les comptes; par extension, fermer ou clore définitivement une activité, et familièrement éliminer quelqu'un.

Word origin

The French verb liquider derives from Latin liquidare, 'to make liquid', whose financial use led to the settlement and closure senses.

Usage tips

  • Liquider une entreprise usually means wind it up permanently, whereas fermer une entreprise can also describe simply closing it.

Other meanings

  • settleverb
  • wind upverb
  • killverb

Related words

  • liquidationliquidationnoun
  • liquidéliquidatedadjective
  • liquidecashnoun

Word lists with this word