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

If the borrower qualifies for refinancing on their own, then the new loan replaces the old one, and the original cosigner is no longer responsible for the debt. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Sullivan compared the approach to refinancing longer-term obligations with shorter-term borrowing. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

And while refinancing your student loans could be useful for some borrowers, think carefully before refinancing federal student loan debt. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

So could refinancing, a possibility for both student loans and mortgages. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 17 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)