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

The Fed reduced its benchmark interest rate in its last three meetings in September, October and December, going a long way toward reducing mortgage interest rates for both buyers and owners hoping to refinance. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026

Clearer disclosures, easier balance transfers, stronger competition among lenders, and pathways to refinancing all reduce costs without shrinking access. —J.d. Hayworth, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026

Paramount will likely contend that overly conservative—or overly optimistic—assumptions about refinancing costs, interest rates, and cash flow could skew the board’s judgment about what constitutes fair value. —Corey Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

That caused an implosion in Saks Global’s bond prices last spring that didn’t settle down until that debt was refinanced in August and $600 million more was added on. —Evan Clark, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refinance

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

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)