distress
noun
uk/dɪˈstres/ us [ C or U ] LAW
the legal action of taking and selling another person’s property in order to get money for a payment or debt that they owe:
make a distress A distress should be made for the whole rent in arrears; but if goods cannot be found at the time, the injured party may make a second distress.
[ U ] ECONOMICS, FINANCE
financial failure, for example, not having enough money to pay back a debt or the costs of operating a business:
Rising dependence on credit cards could be a sign of distress as some consumers borrow just to meet routine expenses.
economic/financial distress