default risk

Default risk

The risk that an issuer of a bond may be unable to make timely principal and interest payments. Also referred to as credit risk (as gauged by commercial rating companies).

Default Risk

The risk that a debtor will be unable to pay back its loans. Default risk goes up if a debtor has large number of liabilities and poor cash flow. Generally speaking, companies and persons with high default risk stand a greater chance of a loan being denied and pay a higher interest rate on the loans they do receive. See also: Bankruptcy.

default risk

The possibility that a borrower will be unable to meet interest and/or principal repayment obligations on a loan agreement. Default risk has a significant effect on the value of a bond: if a borrower's ability to repay debt is impaired, default risk is higher and the value of the bond will decline.