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

Municipal issuers sold a record $580 billion in bonds in 2025, up 13% from 2024, with the increase driven largely by new borrowing and tax-exempt issuance rather than refinancing older debt, according to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Applications for loans to refinance existing mortgages also declined, falling to their slowest pace since February 2025. — Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Here, refinancing on friendlier terms, which will only be possible if the studio appears successful, will be key. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026

The decision to refinance, then, will be a personal one based on your financial circumstances, budget and interpretation of where mortgage interest rates could be heading in the near term. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Sep. 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)