refinance

verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnan(t)s  (ˌ)rē-ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

ˌrē-(ˌ)fī-ˈnan(t)s

refinanced; refinancing; refinances

transitive + intransitive

: to renew or reorganize the financing of something : to provide for (an outstanding indebtedness) by making or obtaining another loan or a larger loan on fresh terms

refinance a mortgage

With rates tumbling, pay a little more now and retain the flexibility to refinance again next year.

—Daniel Kadlec

Examples of refinance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than sit on the sidelines hoping for a rate cut, buyers are moving forward now, banking on refinancing down the road if rates ever cooperate. — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 24 July 2026

Plus, for a $250 fee, borrowers can lower their mortgage rate without refinancing, a huge bonus for anyone who bought when rates were high. — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Condominium homeowners will have difficulty obtaining or refinancing mortgages if the association does not qualify for FHA and FNMA loans. — Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026

Big banks have been busy refinancing loans made by private-credit firms. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refinance

• circumstance
• esperance
• exceedance
• happenstance
• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance

Legal Definition

refinance

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnans, -ˈfī-ˌnans 

1

: to renew or reorganize the financing of

2

: to revise the terms of (a debt obligation) especially in regard to interest rate or payment schedule

refinance a mortgage

intransitive verb

: to finance something anew

refinance

2 of 2 noun

: a financing of something anew

especially : a revision of the terms of a debt obligation (as a mortgage)