the state of being behind or late, especially in the fulfillment of a duty, promise, obligation, or the like: Many homeowners have fallen into arrears.
2.
Sometimes, arrear.something overdue in payment; a debt that remains unpaid: Those countries that have paid their arrears may be granted additional loans.
Idioms
3.
in arrears, behind or late, especially in payment: She was three months in arrears on her mortgage and credit card payments.Also, Chiefly Law,in arrear.
Origin: 1300–50; noun use of arrear (adv., now obsolete), Middle Englisharere behind < Middle French ≪ Latinad retrō. See ad-, retro-
early 14c., from O.Fr. ariere "behind, backward," from V.L. *ad retro, from L. ad "to" + retro "behind." Meaning "balance due" dates from mid-15c.; phrase in arrears first recorded 1620, but in arrearages is from late 14c.