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

And the opportunity—and even necessity—for refinancing corporate debt is another tailwind, according to the IEA. —Justin Worland, Time, 29 May 2026

The restaurant planned to use 80% of the money for working capital and relocation, 14% to refinance debt and 6% to pay SMBX’s capital raise fee, according to the prospectus. —Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Those in the top half of the K have seen their household finances and wealth enriched by soaring stock prices, equity in their home and a refinancing boom that lowered mortgage payments and padded their piggy banks. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 May 2026

The good news is that as your finances improve, refinancing may become an option. —Jason Peters, Kansas City Star, 27 May 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)