What does collateral refer to?

Asked by: Mr. Ansley Legros  |  Last update: October 25, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (5 votes)

As a noun, collateral means something provided to a lender as a guarantee of repayment. So if you take out a loan or mortgage to buy a car or house, the loan agreement usually states that the car or house is collateral that goes to the lender if the sum isn't paid.

What does the term collateral refer to?

Collateral is an item of value pledged to secure a loan. Collateral reduces the risk for lenders. If a borrower defaults on the loan, the lender can seize the collateral and sell it to recoup its losses.

What does use of collateral mean?

collateral noun [U] (SECURITY FOR DEBT )

valuable property owned by someone who wants to borrow money, that they agree will become the property of the company or person who lends the money if the debt is not paid back: use something as collateral She used her house as collateral for a loan.

What is the meaning of the word collateral?

(kəlætərəl ) uncountable noun [oft as N] Collateral is money or property which is used as a guarantee that someone will repay a loan. [formal] Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.

What is as collateral?

Quick Answer. Collateral is any asset you use to secure a loan, such as a home, car or a bank account. If you don't repay a collateralized loan, the lender can take possession of the collateral and sell it to recover its losses.

COLLATERAL meaning | What does "COLLATERAL" mean? Definition in Merlin Dictionary

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What is an example of a collateral?

Collateral is an asset—like a car or a home—that can help borrowers qualify for a loan by lowering the risk to a lender. Secured loans typically require collateral; unsecured loans usually don't. Auto loans, mortgages and secured credit cards are examples of secured loans.

What qualifies as collateral?

Collateral is a valuable asset (like a car, house or even cash) you can pledge to secure a loan. If you fail to repay your loan, the lender can seize whatever you've put up as collateral.

What best describes collateral?

Collateral is an asset that, as the business owner, you put up when receiving a loan (or another type of financing) to lower the lender's risk. In case you are unable to pay back your debt, the lender will seize your collateral in order to recover their losses.

What is the legal definition of collateral?

Collateral is an item of value, such as property or assets , that is pledged by an individual (borrower) in order to guaranty a loan . Upon default , the collateral becomes subject to seizure by the lender and may be sold to satisfy the debt . The value of collateral is not based on the market value .

What is collateral damage slang for?

"Collateral damage" is a term for any incidental and undesired death, injury or other damage inflicted, especially on civilians, as the result of an activity. Originally coined to describe military operations, it is now also used in non-military contexts to refer to negative unintended consequences of an action.

Who pays collateral?

Collateral is an asset pledged by a borrower to a lender until a loan is paid back. If the borrower defaults, then the lender has the right to seize the collateral and sell it to pay off the loan. Lack of collateral is said to explain the mismatch between supply and demand in the small- scale financial market.

What is the appropriate meaning of collateral?

Collateral is an asset or form of physical wealth that the borrower owns like house, livestock, vehicle etc. It is against these assets that the banks provide loans to the borrower.

Do you have to pay collateral back?

A collateral loan — also called a secured loan — is backed by something you own. The item that backs the loan is called collateral. The lender has the right to seize the collateral if you can't repay the loan. Collateral loans often come with lower interest rates or larger loan amounts.

What does collateral use mean?

A quick definition of collateral use:

It is a type of intellectual property law that allows for the use of a trademark without permission from the owner, as long as certain conditions are met. This is different from other types of use, such as adverse use or conditional use, which have different legal implications.

What cannot be used as collateral?

Non-Transferable Assets: Assets that are legally restricted from being transferred, such as government benefits, social security payments, or certain insurance policies, cannot be used as collateral since they cannot be seized or sold.

Why is it called collateral?

The adjective collateral is derived, via Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin collateralis, a combination of the prefix com- (the prefix is col- when used before the letter l), meaning "with, together, or jointly," and lateralis, meaning "lateral." Lateral itself is ultimately from Latin latus, which means "side" and ...

What is the definition of collateral?

As a noun, collateral means something provided to a lender as a guarantee of repayment. So if you take out a loan or mortgage to buy a car or house, the loan agreement usually states that the car or house is collateral that goes to the lender if the sum isn't paid.

What is the collateral rule?

The collateral source rule is a legal doctrine in tort law that prohibits the admission of evidence showing that the plaintiff or victim has received compensation from sources other than the damages sought against the defendant .

How does collateral work?

Financial institutions define collateral as an asset you pledge to secure a loan. If you default, the lender can seize this collateral to recover the outstanding balance. Common examples of collateral include your home, car, land, or other valuable property.

Is collateral a good thing?

The major advantages of a collateral loan are: You're more likely to be approved. If you're having a tough time getting a loan, perhaps due to credit issues or a short credit history, securing a loan with collateral could help reduce your risk as a borrower. You might qualify for a larger loan.

What is collateral in law?

collateral. 1) n. property pledged to secure a loan or debt, usually funds or personal property as distinguished from real property (but technically collateral can include real estate). 2) adj.

What is proof of collateral?

To prove your ownership of the collateral you're offering, you'll have to provide additional documents like W-2s, bank statements, pay stubs, receipts, and deeds.

Can you borrow without collateral?

What is an Unsecured Personal Loan? A Personal Unsecured Installment Loan provides you access to the money you need without using your property as collateral. You receive funds in one lump sum and pay it off through monthly payments over a fixed term of your choosing.

How do you identify collateral?

1 Identify the type of collateral

Different types of collateral have different characteristics, such as liquidity, volatility, marketability, and legal enforceability. For example, cash and securities are highly liquid and easily marketable, while real estate and machinery are less liquid and more difficult to sell.

What can be kept as collateral?

Residential Property

It is the most common property type that lenders accept as collateral for a loan against property. You can pledge any residential property as security to avail a loan. It could be the one that you have rented or the one that is vacant at the present moment.