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

The state constitutional amendment, passed by voters in 1992, requires voter approval for tax increases and allows state revenue collections to rise only as fast as general inflation and in line with population growth, with anything over that cap refunded to taxpayers. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

Because the price hikes were found to be imposed without providing customers with valid justifications, the court ruled that the new prices are invalid and ordered Netflix to refund affected subscribers. —Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026

Noun

However, some Idaho taxpayers can expect longer waits on refunds due to state tax conformity laws the Idaho Statesman previously reported. —Hali Smith april 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2026

And this year, refund recipients are enjoying a bigger spike. —Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 4 Apr. 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