finance

1 of 2

noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s  ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

fī-ˈnan(t)s

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

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 (someone) on credit

Synonyms

Noun

• resources
• fund
• pocket

Verb

• fund
• subsidize

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

Seasonal hiring likely boosted hospitality listings, with finance benefitting from a potential easing of federal regulations. —Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The series will showcase glimpses into the world of finance with its titans, innovators, and rising stars shaping the future of money, power, and policy. —Abigail Lee, Variety, 1 July 2025

Verb

Costner spent $38 million of his own money to finance Horizon, per Variety, alongside two unnamed private investors. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The biggest chain in the U.S. and globally entered Covid with a hefty debt load that was a stinging liability given the need to finance it even as theaters shut down and the box office slumped. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing finance

• co-finance
• finance company
• finance house
• high finance
• pre-finance
• self-finance

Rhymes for finance

• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance
• romance
• chance
• dance
• glance
• hance

Kids Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s  ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

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