An acronym for American Depository Receipt. Currently popular because of the rush of Indian firms to issue ADRs. Technically, it is an instrument traded at exchanges in the US representing a fixed number of shares of a foreign company that is traded in the foreign country. By trading in ADRs, U.S. investors manage to avoid some of the problems of dealing in foreign securities markets. The ADR route enables companies to raise funds in the U.S. financial markets, provided they meet the stringent regulatory norms for disclosure and accounting.