What is a check that the bank refuses to pay called?

A check that the bank refuses to pay is commonly referred to as a dishonored check. This term is used when the bank does not process the check for various reasons, such as insufficient funds in the account to cover the check amount, a stop payment order on the check, or if the check is stale (meaning it's not presented for payment within a certain time frame). When a check is dishonored, the payee, or the person to whom the check is made out, is essentially unable to access the funds that were intended to be transferred.

In this context, an outstanding check refers to one that has been written but not yet cleared or paid by the bank, while a returned check often specifies a check that has been sent back to the depositor or payee due to insufficient funds or other issues. A canceled check, on the other hand, is one that has been processed and marked as paid, often used as proof of payment. Thus, the term 'dishonored check' is the most accurate description for a check that the bank outright refuses to pay.