crowdfunding
noun
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Crowdsourcing and crowdfunding are two words that have recently found their way into the crowded pool of English. Crowdsourcing, which typically refers to the practice of soliciting services, ideas, or content from a large group of people online, was coined by Jeff Howe in a 2006 article in Wired, and crowdfunding was created by entrepreneur Michael Sullivan in that same year. Both words conceptualize "the crowd" as a vast online community from which something needed may be obtained. In crowdsourcing, the crowd is called upon for needed assistance or information. A well-known use of crowdsourcing is Wikipedia, whose content is the result of various contributors. Crowdfunding, on the other hand, involves a more specific request: the crowd is solicited for financial contributions to a particular venture or cause, such as a film project or cancer research.
Examples of crowdfunding in a Sentence
Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
PDFs of the game books are available now, but backers of the crowdfunding can get physical books, miniatures of their favorite characters and more.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Palmer, in turn, leaned into her growing reputation as a crowdfunding genius.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
Catch up quick: In 2015, the state legislature passed a crowdfunding law, opening the door for companies like Neighborhood Ventures to court financial contributions from everyday Arizonans.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for crowdfunding 
Dictionary Entries Near crowdfunding
Cite this Entry
“Crowdfunding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crowdfunding. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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