- the process of terminating the affairs of a business firm, etc, by realizing its assets to discharge its liabilities
- the state of a business firm, etc, having its affairs so terminated (esp in the phrase to go into liquidation)
- destruction; elimination
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
liq•ui•da•tion
(lik′wi dā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- Businessthe process of realizing upon assets and of discharging liabilities in concluding the affairs of a business, estate, etc.
- Businessthe process of converting securities or commodities into cash.
- Businessthe state of being liquidated:an estate in liquidation.
- liquidate + -ion 1565–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
liquidation /ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃən/ n
liq•ui•date /ˈlɪkwɪˌdeɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -dat•ed, -dat•ing.
liq•ui•da•tor, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Businessto settle or pay (a debt):to liquidate a claim.
- Businessto convert (property or other assets) into cash:to liquidate an estate.
- to get rid of, esp. by killing:The regime liquidated enemies.
- to break up or do away with:to liquidate a partnership.
liq•ui•da•tor, n. [countable]
liq•ui•date
(lik′wi dāt′),USA pronunciation v., -dat•ed, -dat•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
v.t.
- Businessto settle or pay (a debt):to liquidate a claim.
- Businessto reduce (accounts) to order;
determine the amount of (indebtedness or damages). - Businessto convert (inventory, securities, or other assets) into cash.
- to get rid of, esp. by killing:to liquidate the enemies of the regime.
- to break up or do away with:to liquidate a partnership.
v.i.
- Businessto liquidate debts or accounts;
go into liquidation.
- Late Latin liquidātus, past participle of liquidāre to melt, make clear. See liquid, -ate1
- 1565–75; 1920–25 for def. 4;
- 1. discharge, clear, erase, cancel.
'liquidation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):