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

More than $100 billion has been refunded due to a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that struck down many of the administration's tariffs. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

The money flows into a restricted fund that cannot subsidize general government, and any surplus must be refunded or used to lower fees. — Fabiola Stuyvesant, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Noun

Several CEOs have warned investors that the benefit of tariff refunds will fade, potentially leaving companies with fewer options in terms of absorbing rising costs. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Then on Thursday, the White House announced $500 Obamacare refunds for nearly 1 million people beginning in October. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 11 Sep. 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