finance

1 of 2

noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s  ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

fī-ˈnan(t)s

1

finances plural : money or other liquid resources of a government, business, group, or individual

The library closed due to a lack of finances.

2

: the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities

3

: the science or study of the management of funds

An expert in finance predicts a global recession.

4

: the obtaining of funds or capital : financing

business expansion for which finance would otherwise be unavailable

—F. D. Roosevelt

finance

2 of 2

verb

financed; financing

transitive verb

1

a

: to raise or provide funds or capital for

finance a new house

b

: to furnish with necessary funds

finance a son through college

2

: to sell something to on credit

Synonyms

Noun

• bankroll
• coffers
• exchequer
• fund
• pocket
• resources
• wherewithal

Verb

• bankroll
• capitalize
• endow
• fund
• stake
• subsidize
• underwrite

Examples of finance in a Sentence

Noun

She's taking a course on personal finance.

an expert in finance who predicts global economic disaster

The library closed due to a lack of finances.

Verb

His parents financed his college education.

The study was financed by a government grant.

They financed him to study abroad.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During his first term, Trump appointed Steve Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive who had been his campaign’s finance chair, to be Treasury Secretary. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Local media reports said hundreds of amateur videos had been found at the finance official’s home during a raid associated with a corruption investigation. —Reuters, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

Mile End Kicks is produced by Matthew Miller and Pat Kiely, with XYZ Films financing along with IPR.VC and is handling worldwide sales. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

For instance, governments might issue green bonds to finance a solar power plant or companies might use them to upgrade to energy-efficient infrastructure. —Christer Holloman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French finances, going back to Middle French, "monetary resources, revenue," in singular, "money, resource," from finer "to pay by way of settlement, make a payment" (derivative of fin "final agreement, payment, fine entry 3") + -ance -ance

Note: In the current senses, finance is borrowed directly from French, though the word existed in English with early senses going back to medieval French; cf. Middle English fynaunce "ending, outcome, monetary payment, ransom," borrowed from Anglo-French in these senses.

Verb

derivative of finance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing finance

• co-finance
• finance company
• finance house
• high finance
• pre-finance
• self-finance

Kids Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s  ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

fī-ˈnan(t)s

1

plural : resources (as money) available to a government, person, group, or business

2

: the obtaining or providing of funds or capital

3

: the system that includes the circulation of money, the providing of banks and credit, and the making of investments

financial

fə-ˈnan-chəl

fī-

adjective

financially

-ˈnanch-(ə-)lē

adverb

finance

2 of 2 verb

financed; financing

: to provide money for

finance a trip

Legal Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun

fi·​nance

1

plural : money or other liquid resources of a government, business, group, or individual

2

: the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities

3

: the science or study of the management of funds

4

: the obtaining of funds or capital : financing

finance

2 of 2 transitive verb

financed; financing

1

a

: to raise or provide funds or capital for

finance a takeover

b

: to furnish with necessary funds

2

: to sell something to on credit