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Added 9 October 2026

escheat

/ɪsˈt͡ʃiːt/ noun

In Latin: fiscalitas Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about escheat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A reversion to the state (as the ultimate owner of property) in the absence of legal heirs.
The property that reverts to the state.

Origin

From Middle English escheat, achete, eschete (“the reversion or conversion of property to the government”), from Anglo-Norman eschete and Old French eschet, escheit, escheoit (“that which falls to one”), past participle of escheoir (“to fall”) (modern French échoir), from Late Latin *excadēre (“fall away, fall out”), from (Latin) ex- + cadere (“fall”). Doublet of cheat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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