Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Awaiting payment; capable of being received: Describes an amount of money that is owed to a business or person and is expected to be paid. It refers to a legal claim for payment.
   • Acceptable, worthy of being received: (Less common, formal) Describes something that is fit or suitable to be accepted.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Primary meaning: Awaiting payment):
  • The company's receivable balance has increased this quarter.
  • All receivable amounts are due within 30 days of invoice.
• Adjective (Secondary meaning: Acceptable):
  • (Formal/Literary) His arguments were deemed receivable by the council.

Advanced Usage

• "Accounts receivable" (n.): This is a standard accounting term for the total amount of money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services delivered but not yet paid for. It is treated as a current asset on the balance sheet.
  • The finance department is managing the accounts receivable.
• "Notes receivable" (n.): A formal written promise (a promissory note) to receive a specific sum of money on a future date.
  • The loan was recorded as a note receivable.

Variants and Related Words

• Receivables (n., plural): A collective term for all amounts owed to an entity; synonymous with "accounts receivable."
  • The firm sold its portfolio of receivables to a collector.
• Receive (v.): To get or be given something.
• Receiver (n.): 1. A person or thing that receives. 2. The party in a legal proceeding who is appointed to manage property or funds.
• Receivability (n., rare): The quality of being receivable or acceptable.

Synonyms

• Due: Owed as a debt.
• Owed: Required to be paid or repaid.
• Collectible: Capable of being collected, especially a debt.
• Outstanding: Not yet paid, resolved, or completed.

Antonyms

• Payable: Requiring to be paid; owed by the business.
• Liability: A financial obligation or debt owed.

Notes

• In business and accounting contexts, "receivable" is almost exclusively used to describe debts owed to an entity. The secondary meaning ("acceptable") is now rare and primarily found in formal or legal language. The word is most frequently encountered in its plural form "receivables" or in the compound term "accounts receivable."

Adjective

1. awaiting payment
   • accounts receivable