Definition

A legal process where a court orders a third party to hold money or property belonging to someone until a debt is paid.

Example

The court issued a garnishment to collect the unpaid child support from his wages.

Conversation

I just found out my paycheck will be affected by a garnishment this month.

Oh no! Is it for something serious?

Yeah, it’s for some old debt I forgot about.

That’s tough. I hope it gets sorted out quickly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Garnishment → It is formed from 'garnir' (from Old French, meaning to equip or furnish) and the suffix '-ment' (indicating the action or result of a process). The word 'garnishment' refers to the action of equipping or furnishing a claim against someone's wages or property, typically in a legal context.

Memory Tip

Think of 'garnir' meaning to 'equip' or 'furnish' — this helps you remember that 'garnishment' involves equipping a legal claim against someone's earnings.

Visually Confused Words