crowdfunding

noun

crowd·​fund·​ing ˈkrau̇d-ˌfən-diŋ 

: the practice of obtaining needed funding (as for a new business) by soliciting contributions from a large number of people especially from the online community

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Many are financed through crowdfunding, with subscribers garnering exclusive perks, and embrace subtitles and alternate audio (a series like the Japanese cyberpunk Milky Subway is dubbed in 10 different languages). —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

All crowdfunding projects have an element of risk, but backers of the startup's first Kickstarter for an all-in-one smart telescope seem satisfied with their all-in-one smart telescope - shipping grumbles aside. —New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2026

News of the missing dog quickly spread in New Zealand and by Sunday thousands of dollars had been raised through a crowdfunding campaign by a helicopter company that offered to look for her. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026

In an effort to promote clean energy infrastructure, the charging stations was a result of public crowdfunding in West Sacramento, according to a press release. —Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from gerund of crowdfund

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crowdfunding

• refunding
• funding
• underfunding

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Kids Definition

crowdfunding

noun

crowd·​fund·​ing ˈkrau̇d-ˌfən-diŋ 

: the practice of obtaining funding (as for a new business) by seeking contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community