forbearance

noun

for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈber-ən(t)s How to pronounce forbearance (audio)
fər-
plural forbearances
1
: a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due
The policy provides a means of forbearance for borrowers meeting certain criteria.
2
: the act of forbearing : patience
Mrs Varden entreated her to remember that … marriage … was a state requiring great fortitude and forbearance.Charles Dickens
3
: the quality of being forbearing : leniency
known … for her forbearance with her incorrigible husbandWilla Cather

Examples of forbearance in a Sentence

He showed great forbearance in his dealings with them. we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program
Recent Examples on the Web The initiative, said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, would find a middle ground that would maintain some measure of forbearance while getting much tougher on repeat offenders, and especially against those who sell drugs that kill people. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2024 The analysis ranked 100 large cities on several metrics of financial duress, including bankruptcy filings, credit scores and accounts in forbearance over money troubles. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 The account adjustment allows past periods of repayment, and some periods of deferment and forbearance, to also count toward loan forgiveness through PSLF (as well as IDR). Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Borrowers who were affected by the three servicers’ errors will get placed into administrative forbearance. Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 Millions of federal student loan borrowers have resumed repayment during the last few months after the Covid-19 forbearance came to an end after more than three years. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Pandemic transfer payments and student-loan forbearance ended this year, but the employee retention tax credit (ERC) is a Covid giveaway that keeps on giving. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2023 And don’t worry about the impact a forbearance has on your credit history. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023 This kind of forbearance often goes unnoticed until it is threatened by partisan action. Amanda Taub, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forbearance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see forbear entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forbearance was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near forbearance

Cite this Entry

“Forbearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forbearance. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

forbearance

noun
for·​bear·​ance fȯr-ˈbar-ən(t)s How to pronounce forbearance (audio)
fər-,
-ˈber-
1
: the act of forbearing
2
: the quality of being forbearing : patience

Legal Definition

forbearance

noun
for·​bear·​ance
variants also forebearance
fȯr-ˈbar-əns
: a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due

More from Merriam-Webster on forbearance

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