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uncollectible

uncollectible

7.8
A debt a business cannot collect
  • noun
  • /ˌʌn.kəˈlɛk.tə.bəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : deuda incobrable
  • It was in Nash General Hospital's interest to engage in such a project, not only in the name of good health, but because approximately $290,000 had been written off by the hospital in uncollectibles.

Examples

  • Businesses often set aside funds to cover potential uncollectibles in their financial statements.

  • The accountant reported that the total amount of uncollectibles had increased this quarter.

  • Uncollectibles are below 3 percent.

    Academic text (1997)
  • However, the project was to do far more than eliminate uncollectibles.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Due to the economic downturn, many companies are facing rising uncollectibles that affect their profits.

Antonyms

collectible
  • Formal
15 6.3

Able to be legally taken to pay a debt

How Collectible

accounts receivable
  • Specialized
4 5.2
uncollectible
  • Specialized
7.8
bad debt
  • Specialized
9 4.1

Surface Forms

uncollectible singular

Morphology

uncollectible = collectible (transparent) = un + collect + ible

The meaning is directly compositional: 'un-' negates 'collectible', yielding 'not collectible'.

Etymology

Uncollectible as a noun comes from un- 'not' plus collect 'gather', just like collection. That makes an uncollectible a debt a business cannot 'gather' or recover.