crowdfunding

noun

crowd·fund·ing | \ ˈkrau̇d-ˌfən-diŋ

Definition of crowdfunding

: 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? Example Sentences Learn More about crowdfunding

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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

Beyond Collins, crowdfunding has been on the rise in politics. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Why Susan Collins claims she’s being bribed over her Kavanaugh vote," 12 Sep. 2018 The 500 nonprofits went well beyond the amount required, raising more than $945,000 through the online crowdfunding site Crowdrise. — Lauren Ready And Danielle Barker, USA TODAY, "Little Readers wins grant to connect more incarcerated parents to their kids," 9 July 2018 Between its innovative designs and bold crowdfunding campaign, ModVans is a company to watch. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Camper van with removable components can sleep a family," 21 Nov. 2018 And hey, no more obligatory crowdfunding campaigns. That’s a relief. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "Microsoft acquires CRPG heavyweights Obsidian and InXile," 10 Nov. 2018 The Muslim-American community was already listening: On social media, the hashtag #Muslims4Pittsburgh circulated with a crowdfunding campaign for the Tree of Life victims and their families. — Jennifer Hijazi, Vox, "After Pittsburgh, the interfaith response sends message of solidarity across the religious divide," 28 Oct. 2018 Tesla benefits from intensely loyal fans Tesla customer Charles Scott compares the full self-driving option to a crowdfunding campaign. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Tesla pulled the “full self-driving” option—here’s what customers think," 25 Oct. 2018 The angry orange balloon has gotten the approval to go aloft from London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, and has drawn about 23,000 pounds (or roughly $30,000) in donations to a crowdfunding site. — Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, "Does London's Baby Trump deserve spot among 5 best Trump parodies?," 6 July 2018 According to a crowdfunding site, Woodroffe had moved to Ucayali to study plant medicine and become an addiction counselor, Reuters reports. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "A Judge Has Ordered Arrests Over Killing of a Canadian in the Peruvian Amazon," 24 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crowdfunding.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.