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

He adds the rate of mortgage arrears is trending higher in Ontario, the most trade-exposed province in Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

It said repairs were undertaken by an external contractor that did not work a four-day week and that rent arrears were "well below" the national average and affected by cost-of-living pressures.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 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

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