prime rate
noun
: an interest rate formally announced by a bank to be the lowest available at a particular time to its most credit-worthy customers
called also prime interest rate
Examples of prime rate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The data followed a decision by China's central bank earlier this week to keep loan prime rates unchanged, despite weak economic data and an extended slump in the property sector plaguing the world's second-largest economy.
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Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
For one, HELOCs have variable rates that are tied to the prime rate, which is directly influenced by the federal funds rate.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The index: Most HELOC lenders use Wall Street’s prime rate.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 11 Dec. 2025
For existing customers, credit cards often have variable rates, which drop after the prime rate falls.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime rate
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Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
For one, HELOCs have variable rates that are tied to the prime rate, which is directly influenced by the federal funds rate.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The index: Most HELOC lenders use Wall Street’s prime rate.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 11 Dec. 2025
For existing customers, credit cards often have variable rates, which drop after the prime rate falls.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime rate
Cite this Entry
“Prime rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime%20rate. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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