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

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about finance

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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 The People’s National Party government, then recently elected, sent the finance minister, Peter Phillips, to Washington to plead with the IMF for one last chance. — The Economist, "Jamaica’s tumultuous relationship with the IMF has a happy ending," 9 Nov. 2019 This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. — Washington Post, "Time your credit card application this bonus-friendly season," 7 Nov. 2019 Though finance minister Darko Radunovic has said the payment will be made from the regular budget, the government has already had to increase taxes and electricity prices, cap public-sector salaries, and cut a benefit for mothers. — Christopher R. O'dea, National Review, "Mike Pompeo’s View of China," 7 Nov. 2019 Campaign finance records show Siplin had spent about $121,000, compared to Burns’ $32,107. — Ryan Gillespie, orlandosentinel.com, "Buddy Dyer overwhelmingly reelected to fifth term," 6 Nov. 2019 The sheriff’s office spent $4,500 to buy 60 more mats the same month, finance records show. — Jason Pohl, ProPublica, "A Jail Increased Extreme Isolation to Stop Suicides. More People Killed Themselves.," 5 Nov. 2019 Consider visiting a personal finance website or downloading an app to help manage your money. — Amrita Jayakumar, chicagotribune.com, "Millennial Money: Don’t let anxiety rule your finances," 30 Oct. 2019 The former International Monetary Fund chief and French finance minister is known for her political acumen — skills that could help reduce dissent within the central bank and convince governments to act. — Julia Horowitz, CNN, "The man who saved the euro bows out amid 'unprecedented' dissent at Europe's central bank," 24 Oct. 2019 The personal-finance website, which analyzes data for a variety of topics throughout the year, ranked cities based on three criteria: Trick-or-treater friendliness, fun and weather. — Marc Bona, cleveland, "Where does Cleveland rank as a place to celebrate Halloween?," 22 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Ohio Lake Erie Commission administers Ohio’s Lake Erie Protection Fund, which finances research and projects to preserve and restore Lake Erie and its watersheds. — Brian Albrecht, cleveland, "What you can do to help reduce harmful algal blooms," 10 Nov. 2019 To establish credit early on, Lebenthal suggests military members apply for a credit card or two, perhaps even financing a car through an auto loan. — Michelle Fox, NBC News, "How military members can boost their credit score," 8 Nov. 2019 Twenty-nine East Germans escaped through a tunnel that NBC financed in return for the rights to broadcast the escape. — Time, "The Berlin Wall Is a Reminder That Barriers Last Only As Long as the Political Will to Defend Them," 8 Nov. 2019 Last week, Elizabeth Warren released her plan for fully financing Medicare for All, which her campaign estimates could cost the government $20.5 trillion over ten years. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "Against Debt Hysteria," 7 Nov. 2019 The protests led to lawsuits that reached the Texas Supreme Court, which in 1989 ruled unanimously that the state’s system of financing public education was unconstitutional. — Elaine Ayala, ExpressNews.com, "Half a century later, the Chicano student strikes still reverberate," 5 Nov. 2019 Israel's thriving scene is in part thanks to its government's Innovation Authority, which provides company grants and has financed a $28 million food tech incubator. — Nell Lewis, CNN, "What's fueling the boom in food technology?," 4 Nov. 2019 The various tribes aren't actually involved in financing the operations, critics say. — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, "AG Nessel sues online tribal lender over 'predatory' lending practices," 31 Oct. 2019 The estimated initial investment for a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise ranges from $458,950 and $555,350, with 82 to 83 percent of the investment typically financed over a 10-year period using Small Business Administration loans. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, "Christian Brothers Automotive plans third Birmingham location," 29 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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