arrears

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments are made a year in arrears, so if your costs rose this year, your Social Security payments wouldn’t go up in response until 2027.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

The death comes amid a difficult economic climate in the heavily indebted west African country, where students have protested the thorny issue of stipend arrears for several years.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Inflation also undermines the value of Social Security payments, because the annual cost-of-living adjustments come a year in arrears.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

By the summer, Saks was in arrears with more suppliers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

The pews were decrepit, the bills were once so in arrears the electricity was nearly turned off, and the padre hadn’t installed air-conditioning, despite summer temperatures that reach 120 degrees.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario