What does acquittance mean?
Acquittance is a formal noun denoting either a written document that acknowledges a debt or obligation has been fully discharged, or the act of releasing someone from such a liability. Rooted in legal and financial practice, it appears most often in contracts, receipts, and official records rather than casual conversation. When a debtor pays what is owed, the creditor may issue an acquittance as proof that no further claim remains — functioning much like a receipt, but with broader legal force. The word carries a distinctly formal, even archaic connotation, evoking older legal language and historical documents more than modern commerce. Though uncommon today, it survives in specialized contexts and offers a precise alternative to vaguer terms like 'clearance' or 'settlement.' Its close visual resemblance to 'acquaintance' makes it a word worth knowing precisely, since confusing the two would be an obvious error.
nounA written document or formal release acknowledging that a debt or obligation has been discharged; the act of clearing someone of a liability or duty.
- A written receipt or document certifying that a debt, claim, or obligation has been discharged.
- The act or fact of releasing a person from a liability, duty, or responsibility.
"The landlord signed an acquittance confirming that all rent arrears had been paid in full."
"Upon final payment, the contractor issued an acquittance releasing the client from any further claims."
"The court recorded a full acquittance of the estate's outstanding obligations."
The plural is regular and typically refers to multiple such documents or releases.
"The archive contains hundreds of medieval acquittances recording payments to the crown."
Despite looking like a typo of 'acquaintance,' acquittance is a centuries-old legal term — and it's the reason we say a debt has been 'quitted.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acquittance
Acquittance derives from the Old French 'aquiter' (to settle, discharge), which itself comes from the Late Latin 'acquietare,' meaning to set at rest or free from a claim — formed from Latin 'ad-' (to) plus 'quietare' (to quiet). It entered English in the Middle Ages through Anglo-Norman legal usage, where it named the formal release of a debtor from obligation. It shares this root with the verb 'acquit,' the word 'quit,' and the legal term 'quietus.'
How acquittance is actually used
Acquittance is a formal, largely legal term found chiefly in contracts, receipts, and historical documents. It is rare in everyday speech and may sound archaic to modern ears, but it remains in use in legal and financial contexts.
Easily confused with acquittance
An acquaintance is a person one knows slightly, while an acquittance is a legal document releasing someone from a debt or obligation.
An acquisition is something acquired, whereas an acquittance is a release from a debt or obligation.