fi·nance
fə-ˈnan(t)s 
ˈfī-ˌnan(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.—
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
financed; financing
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 on credit to (someone)
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
Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The export income finances Moscow’s war effort, Ukraine says.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
The European Investment Bank, which finances projects that advance the EU’s policy goals, has already led a $172 million loan, part of the broader $575 million financing package for Keliber, the first time the EIB has backed the mining of critical raw material in the EU.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finance
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Noun
Dodge said the village is working to improve finances by studying how best to use large facilities such as Centennial Park West, and is considering acquiring the former Riviera Country Club for an athletic field house or other facility.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The export income finances Moscow’s war effort, Ukraine says.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Furst ultimately sold Vestron to LIVE Entertainment after financing constraints forced the company into bankruptcy.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
The European Investment Bank, which finances projects that advance the EU’s policy goals, has already led a $172 million loan, part of the broader $575 million financing package for Keliber, the first time the EIB has backed the mining of critical raw material in the EU.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finance
Cite this Entry
“Finance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finance. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
finance
1 of 2 noun
fi·nance
fə-ˈnan(t)s
ˈfī-ˌnan(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
adjective
fə-ˈnan-chəl,
fī-
financially
adverb
-ˈnanch-(ə-)lē
finance
2 of 2 verb
financed; financing
: to provide money for
finance a trip
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