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

Doing so sidesteps the higher yields on longer tenors but increases refinancing risks. — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Other borrowers may choose to refinance in order to pay off loans faster. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Applications to refinance a home loan rose 5% for the week but were 22% lower than the same week one year ago. — Diana Olick, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Apollo will refinance existing debt and take a minority stake of undisclosed value in Yankee Global Enterprises, the company that owns the Bronx Bombers. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 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)