1. a person who is jointly liable with another for a debt or obligation
Usage: legal/financial term; also spelled co-debtor

Examples

• When you take out a loan with a codebtor, you are both responsible for repaying the full amount.
• The bank required a codebtor on the mortgage to ensure repayment.
• As a codebtor, she is legally obligated to pay if the primary borrower defaults.
• The contract named two codebtors who would share responsibility for the debt.
• If one codebtor fails to pay, the creditor can pursue the other for the entire amount owed.