WordValeescrow
money held by a third party until conditions are met
In more detail
1. (noun) a legal arrangement where a neutral third party holds money or documents during a transaction and releases them only when all conditions are met
2. (noun) the money or documents held by this third party
Examples
- 1. The buyer's down payment was held in escrow until the house inspection was completed.
- 2. The funds will be released from escrow once both parties sign the final agreement.
How to use escrow
Escrow is a formal legal and financial term used primarily in property transactions, contract negotiations, and high-value exchanges where trust between parties is uncertain. It describes both the arrangement itself and the assets held. The term is technical but widely understood in real estate, business, and legal contexts.
Common phrases
- hold in escrow
- place in escrow
- escrow account
- escrow agent
- release from escrow
- escrow arrangement
Synonyms
deposit · trust account · held in abeyance · safekeeping · impound
Word family
escrow (noun) · escrow (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use escrow as a verb without the proper preposition, saying 'we escrowed the money' instead of 'we held the money in escrow' or 'we placed the money in escrow', though the verb form is increasingly accepted in modern business English.
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