collateral

noun
UK: /kəˈlætərəl/
US: /kəˈlætərəl/

  1. Something valuable that you promise to give someone if you cannot pay back money you have borrowed.

    1. She used her car as collateral for the loan she got from the bank.
    2. The bank requires collateral, such as property, to secure the mortgage, reducing their risk.

  2. Additional but subordinate; secondary.

    1. The project suffered collateral damage because of budget cuts.
    2. The study produced collateral findings that were unexpected but highly relevant.

Synonyms

security pledge backup secondary
collateral verb

  1. To provide something as security for a debt.

    1. I had to collateral my house to get the loan from them.
    2. The company collateralized its assets to obtain the necessary financing for expansion.
collateral adjective

  1. Connected but less important; additional.

    1. Collateral information helped solve the case quickly and successfully.
    2. The collateral benefits of the exercise program included improved sleep and increased energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "collateral" in English means: Something valuable that you promise to give someone if you cannot pay back money you have borrowed., Additional but subordinate; secondary..

The phonetic transcription of "collateral" is /kəˈlætərəl/ in British English and /kəˈlætərəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "collateral": security, pledge, backup, secondary.

Example usage of "collateral": "She used her car as collateral for the loan she got from the bank.". More examples on the page.