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# in arrears

phrase (prepositional phrase: be in arrears; fall into arrears; noun arrears)

«in arrears» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, official) late with payments one owes, such as rent, bills or loans.
2. (finance) paid at the end of a period rather than at the start, as in «rent paid in arrears».

### In the lessons

Used by banks, landlords, councils and bills to say someone owes money politely and formally. It avoids «in debt» or «behind». Register: official, legal, financial; all regions, more common in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

### Examples

- Letter: Your account is two months in arrears.
- They fell into arrears with the rent after he lost his job.
- News: Thousands of families are in arrears on their energy bills.
- The council wrote because we are in arrears with the water rates.
- Teachers are paid in arrears, at the end of each month.
- Maths: If you are £200 in arrears and pay £50, you are now £150 in arrears.

### Note

It means you owe money that is already overdue, not that you are rich. «Arrears» is plural (the arrears are…). In the second sense «paid in arrears» is normal and not about debt. In maths, the amount in arrears goes down when you pay. Plain word: behind with payments.