finance

1 of 2

noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio)
ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s,
fī-ˈnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio)
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 unavailableF. 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

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
According to 2023 research, about 60% of employees are stressed about their finances. Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024 Both Fink and Dimon root their analysis outside the confines of finance, explaining their positions as the right approach for humanity as well as for shareholders. Justin Worland, TIME, 20 Apr. 2024 Advertising sales still play a small role in Netflix’s finances, with BMO Capital Markets analyst Brian Pitz projecting the company will bring in about $1.5 billion from commercials streamed on its service this year, while foreseeing years of steady growth ahead. Michael Liedtke, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024 The Trump family also has a connection to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where Eric Trump earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and management and Tiffany Trump earned her law degree. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024 As Joe Biden this week hailed America’s booming economy as the strongest in the world during a reelection campaign tour of battleground-state Pennsylvania, global finance chiefs convening in Washington had a different message: cool it. Enda Curran, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024 Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, noted on Wednesday that the deficit between what Europe exports to China and what it imports had tripled over the last 15 years and that more needed to be done to level the playing field. Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024 Learn how to take control of your personal finances with Get Your Due, our six-week email bootcamp. Byjason Ma, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024 The judge also sentenced Mr. Trump’s longtime finance chief, Allen H. Weisselberg, to five months at the Rikers Island jail complex. William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Verb
Even then, only a few properly implement, enforce, and appropriately finance environmentally sound e-waste management. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024 Industries from medicine to finance to music have already felt its effects. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024 Rivera, who was not on the March central committee ballot, believes the spate of mail financed by LIUNA Local 89 had a huge impact on the results. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024 In an analysis of affordable housing developments financed with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit in the Enterprise Community Partners’ California investment portfolio, insurance costs increased 56% from 2020 to 2022. Nikki Beasley, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024 The dog's supporters also started a fundraiser to finance the statue. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024 The collection of beneficial ownership information is designed to prevent the misuse of shell companies for money laundering, financing terrorism, and other illicit activities threatening national security. Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 This was done in collaboration with the private sector but initiated, directed, and financed by the public sector. James C. Robinson, STAT, 29 Mar. 2024 For example, our research shows that Putin supporters who oppose continuing the war are still divided about whether financing the offensive should take priority over social programs. Timothy Frye, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'finance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of finance was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near finance

Cite this Entry

“Finance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finance. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun
fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio) ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on finance

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