short sale
noun [ C ]
ukus STOCK MARKET
an occasion when someone sells shares that they have borrowed hoping that their price will fall before they have to replace them so that they make a profit:
The Fund may make short sales in an attempt to protect against market declines.
PROPERTY
an occasion when a house is sold for less than the value of its mortgage:
A homeowner involved in a short sale will see an 80- to 100-point drop on his or her credit score.