refund

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​fund ri-ˈfənd  ˈrē-ˌfənd 

refunded; refunding; refunds

transitive verb

1

: to give or put back

2

: to return (money) in restitution, repayment, or balancing of accounts

refundability

ri-ˌfən-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

(ˌ)rē-

noun

refundable

ri-ˈfən-də-bəl 

(ˌ)rē-

adjective

refund

2 of 3

noun

re·​fund ˈrē-ˌfənd 

1

: the act of refunding

2

: a sum refunded

refund

3 of 3

verb (2)

re·​fund (ˌ)rē-ˈfənd 

refunded; refunding; refunds

transitive verb

: to fund again

Synonyms of refund

Verb (1)

• reimburse
• repay

Examples of refund in a Sentence

Verb (1)

will refund you your money

Noun

No refunds or exchanges are allowed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After collecting the additional federal dollars, the state would refund most of the tax to the insurance companies. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

If the state collected more than $29 million each year, the overage was to be refunded to the casinos and licensed gaming companies. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026

Noun

Since the refunds are not guaranteed yet, Levi’s didn’t include it in its financial results or guidance. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Taxpayers who don't file with the IRS to protect a potential refund or abatement will lose the chance forever. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English refounden, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French refunder, from Latin refundere, literally, to pour back, from re- + fundere to pour — more at found

Verb (2)

re- + fund entry 2

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1857, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing refund

• full refund
• tax refund

Rhymes for refund

• fecund
• rotund
• secund
• and
• bund
• fund
• gunned
• hund
• mund
• shunned
• stunned

Kids Definition

refund

1 of 3 verb

re·​fund ri-ˈfənd 

ˈrē-ˌfənd

: to return money in repayment

refundable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

refund

2 of 3 noun

re·​fund ˈrē-ˌfənd 

1

: the act of refunding

2

: an amount of money refunded

refund

3 of 3 verb

re·​fund (ˈ)rē-ˈfənd 

: to fund a debt again