# debtor

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɛt.ə/ · frequency rank #26,056

## Definitions
1. A person or firm that owes money; one in debt; one who owes a debt.
2. One who owes another anything, or is under obligation, arising from express agreement, implication of law, or principles of natural justice, to pay money or to fulfill some other obligation; in bankruptcy or similar proceedings, the person who is the subject of the proceeding.

## Etymology
From Middle English dettour, from Old French detour, from Latin debitor, equivalent to debt + -or. Doublet of debitor. Displaced native Old English *sċola.

## Easily confused with
- **debts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-debts)
- **decor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-decor)
- **deter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-deter)
- **detox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-detox)
- **doctor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-doctor)
- **dexter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-dexter)
- **Denton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-denton)
- **detour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debtor-vs-detour)
- **debt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debt-vs-debtor)

## Common misspellings (9)
`dbetor`, `ddebtor`, `debbtor`, `debotr`, `debtorr`, `debtro`, `debttor`, `detbor`, `edbtor`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/debtor