crowdfunding
noun
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
Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Scheller said a crowdfunding campaign is being launched to raise $150,000 and buy a complete prisoner uniform to add to the collection.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
Courtesy Kimberly Noriega Hyperlocal grassroots organizations like Siempre Unidos LA began sharing the image, and soon a crowdfunding campaign for Lozano and his family hit its goal of $6,000 to cover their legal fees and living expenses.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 29 June 2025
In late April, a friend launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Fry cover some of the costs.
—Renuka Rayasam, NPR, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crowdfunding
Cite this Entry
“Crowdfunding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crowdfunding. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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