refinance

verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnan(t)s 

(ˌ)rē-ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s,

ˌrē-(ˌ)fī-ˈnan(t)s

refinanced; refinancing; refinances

transitive + intransitive

: to renew or reorganize the financing of something : to provide for (an outstanding indebtedness) by making or obtaining another loan or a larger loan on fresh terms

refinance a mortgage

With rates tumbling, pay a little more now and retain the flexibility to refinance again next year.

—Daniel Kadlec

Examples of refinance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, this decline in rates is already providing some existing homeowners the opportunity to refinance. —Kevin Williams, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025

As part of Wednesday’s report, iRobot said its board has initiated a strategic review of the business and is considering alternatives that could include refinancing its debt and exploring a potential sale. —Annie Palmer, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025

This could leave less for your heirs when the home is eventually sold or limit your ability to refinance later. —Gabriel O Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025

Editors’ Picks How Patina Miller, of Starz’s ‘Power’ Series, Spends Her Sundays Image Mr. Conner, 53, and the owners of five other businesses recently sent a letter asking the governor to shut down the program and to refinance their debts. —Ashley Southall, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refinance

• circumstance
• exceedance
• happenstance
• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance
• romance

Legal Definition

refinance

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnans, -ˈfī-ˌnans 

1

: to renew or reorganize the financing of

2

: to revise the terms of (a debt obligation) especially in regard to interest rate or payment schedule

refinance a mortgage

intransitive verb

: to finance something anew

refinance

2 of 2 noun

: a financing of something anew

especially : a revision of the terms of a debt obligation (as a mortgage)