Home › Words › A › arrearagearrearagearrearage means the condition of being in arrears.EtymologyFrom Middle English arrerage, from Old French arierage (“detriment, legal prejudice”).nounThe condition of being in arrears.An item that is in arrears, as periodic payments on a debt or for taxes.e.g.““We’ve had maybe one or two arrearages on a regular basis since 2006 when I got on the board,” said Marc Held, a member until December.” — 2009 February 8, Teri Karush Rogers, “A Condo Toughens Its Stance and Tightens Its Belt”, in New York Times:Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.arrears 84% match — The state of having outstanding debt or liabilities. vs arrearage →arrear 73% match — Towards the rear, backwards. vs arrearage →archaicy 59% match — The condition of being archaic. vs arrearage →debtorship 57% match — The state of being in debt. vs arrearage →default 56% match — The condition of failing to meet an obligation. vs arrearage →accrual 55% match — The act or process of accruing; accumulation. vs arrearage →behindhandness 55% match — The quality of being behindhand. vs arrearage →nonpayment 55% match — The failure to make a payment. vs arrearage →