finance

fi·nance | \ fə-ˈnan(t)s

, ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s, fī-ˈnan(t)s

Definition of finance

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 unavailable— F. D. Roosevelt

finance

verb

financed; financing

Definition of finance (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

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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 Although lobbyists with foreign clients routinely contribute to campaigns, seldom has a foreign head of state been so personally linked to allegations of evading campaign finance laws. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, "Indictment Details How Emirates Sought Influence in 2016 Campaign," 5 Dec. 2019 This is needed as a kind of bridge finance—to pay for essential imports and allow the rebuilding of foreign-exchange reserves, until exports pick up in response to a cheaper currency. — The Economist, "Buttonwood The perils and rewards of economies in rehab," 5 Dec. 2019 In April 2017, the Alabama Ethics Commission found probable cause that Bentley had violated ethics and campaign finance laws. — Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, "Alabama Bicentennial: 200 years of political scandals and scrapes," 4 Dec. 2019 There wasn't a guarantee of additional finance to pay those who are dispossessed by more frequent hurricanes or driven from their homes by rising seas. — Jean Chemnick, Scientific American, "Climate Talks Kick Off: Here Is What’s at Stake," 2 Dec. 2019 Abrams’ allies have also accused the commission, which administers and enforces campaign finance law, of political bias. — Washington Post, "Abrams’ campaign pushes back against demand for emails," 27 Nov. 2019 The Power of Broke,’ John explains the advantages of being broke, the creativity that sparks from lack of finances and how out-of-the-box ideas lead to billion-dollar businesses. — Ashley Mcdonough, Essence, "8 Books You Need to Read to Get Your Money Right," 27 Nov. 2019 Brinkman also practiced law in Louisville for 35 years, specializing in corporate, real estate and public finance law during his legal career. — Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, "Gov. Matt Bevin appoints his staffers to University of Louisville, UK trustee boards," 23 Nov. 2019 Campaigns and foreign agents There is literally no one to enforce campaign finance law, including laws prohibiting foreign actors from contributing anything of value to a political campaign. — Tim Fernholz, Quartz, "No one is protecting the 2020 election," 23 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Harbor Island dredging project, Strawbridge said, will be financed by Lone Star Ports. — ExpressNews.com, "Carlyle Group pulls out of $1 billion oil-export project in Corpus Christi," 22 Nov. 2019 Israel Hayom is financed by Netanyahu’s American billionaire friend Sheldon Adelson and largely serves as the prime minister’s mouthpiece. — Washington Post, "A look at the corruption scandals facing Israel’s Netanyahu," 21 Nov. 2019 Senate Republicans have released an alternative transportation plan that would be financed by dipping into the state’s rainy day fund and prioritizing state borrowing for transportation needs over other projects. — Russell Blair, courant.com, "Capitol Week in Review: Senate Democrats rebuff Lamont on tolls while Senate Republicans present no-tolls transportation plan," 15 Nov. 2019 Last July the state created a $21bn wildfire-insurance fund, to be financed equally by private utilities and customers. — The Economist, "A three-way battle over control of PG&E," 9 Nov. 2019 XYZ Films' Latest Move Genre specialists XYZ Films has raised about $100 million to fund a slate of 15 to 20 titles co-financed by Finnish venture capital company IPR.VC. — Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, "AFM: Download THR's Day 2 Daily," 7 Nov. 2019 Big spenders: More than $2 million has been spent on the race for San Francisco district attorney, with the biggest chunk coming from independent expenditure committees financed by law enforcement. — Phil Matier, SFChronicle.com, "SF Mayor Breed will win election as mayor, but what about other races?," 3 Nov. 2019 The school, financed by Waukesha business executive and voucher-school advocate Gus Ramirez, opened in 2017. — Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "St. Augustine Prep's $30 million expansion on south side proceeding with sale of city-owned project site," 29 Oct. 2019 During a two-week trial, prosecutors said Magbanua enlisted Garcia, the father of her two children, to take part in a hit financed by Markel's in-laws. — Bobby Caina Calvan, sun-sentinel.com, "Jury spares life of South Florida hit man who killed law professor," 15 Oct. 2019

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

History and Etymology for finance

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

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Last Updated

11 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Finance.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finance?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=f&file=financ01. Accessed 11 December 2019.

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More Definitions for finance

finance

noun