finance

noun

Save Word

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 Phrases Containing finance Learn More About finance

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Publicly available campaign finance reports show that Reyes’ campaign has paid Mac’s Place a total of $400 over the course of five transactions since April. — Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 June 2022 Publix has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, but the company notably gave $100,000 to DeSantis’s political committee last year, campaign finance records show. — Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 23 June 2022 The nine candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor spent almost $26 million on the race this year, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State's office. — David Jackson, USA TODAY, 21 June 2022 Campaign finance reports show the party’s fundraising has been weak over the past 18 months. — cleveland, 18 June 2022 These distinguishing differences are important to understand whether your product is designed for banking, lending, personal finance management, financial wellness or any other blockchain/fintech product platform. — Jorge Garcia, Forbes, 17 June 2022 Attorney Marilyn Mosby — with $600,784 in contributions, according to campaign finance reports. — Lee O. Sanderlin, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2022 Kelly Merrick has carved out a moderate niche in the state House, breaking from the GOP minority in exchange for a finance committee co-chair position in her chamber’s largely-Democratic coalition majority. — Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2022 LaCerda brings more than 15 years of experience in alternative asset management finance from his time at BlackRock, Blackstone and KKR. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Barbara Williams reminded that there’s also a branding crisis that needs to be addressed, particularly if the public broadcaster continues to depend on streamers to help finance its shows. — Manori Ravindran, Variety, 16 June 2022 Differing versions of legislation that would have offered the team lucrative tax incentives to help finance a new Virginia stadium cleared both chambers this year, drawing an unusual bipartisan mix of supporters. — Sarah Rankin And Stephen Whyno, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2022 Related:Possible development at American Family Field could help finance stadium renovations, Brewers exec says. — Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 9 June 2022 The city will forgo about $27,000 per year in property taxes in order to help finance the project. — cleveland, 9 June 2022 Reversing the ones for corporations and the wealthy would make the tax system more equitable, and the taxes recovered could help finance the rest of the package. — John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 1 June 2022 Here’s one: To help finance the deal, Musk has already sold around 6% of his Tesla holdings, for $8.5 billion. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 24 May 2022 Indian Housing Block Grants are used to help finance affordable housing projects on Indian reservations and tribal areas. — Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 May 2022 A few days after our visit, Ward’s agency sold nearly $800 million in municipal bonds to help finance the $1.9-billion project. — Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2022 See More

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