PoliticsJuly 16, 2026

arrears

/əˈrɪərz/

Definition

Money that is owed and should have been paid at an earlier time, specifically referring to unpaid wages.

Etymology

Derived from the Anglo-French 'arere' and Middle English 'arere', meaning 'behind'. It originally referred to being behind in one's obligations or actions before evolving to specifically denote overdue financial payments.

In the news

The article highlights that civil servants in South Sudan have accumulated months of salary arrears, which is a major factor in the country's economic desperation. This unpaid debt serves as a critical issue that any future government must address to restore public trust.

Opinion| Beyond survival: Can South Sudan's December 2026 elections build a politics of peace, service and accountability?

Read the full article ↗

Radio Tamazuj

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.