tranche

noun

ˈträⁿsh 

: a division or portion of a pool or whole

specifically : an issue of bonds derived from a pooling of like obligations (such as securitized mortgage debt) that is differentiated from other issues especially by maturity or rate of return

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Finance and Tranche

In French, tranche means "slice." Cutting deeper into the word's etymology, we find the Old French word trancer, meaning "to cut." Tranche emerged in the English language in the late 19th century to describe financial appropriations. Today, it is often used specifically of an issue of bonds that is differentiated from other issues by such factors as maturity or rate of return. Another use of the French word tranche is in the French phrase une tranche de vie, meaning "a cross section of life." That phrase was coined by the dramatist Jean Jullien (1854-1919), who advocated naturalism in the theater.

Examples of tranche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Homeland Security Secretary Noem wrote to Harvard in April requesting a tranche of information be given to DHS in order for the school to retain its SEVP status. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 23 May 2025

One of the president’s targets was the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, a roughly $5 billion tranche of money enacted as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2021 to create a national network of charging stations. —Tony Romm, New York Times, 22 May 2025

The Trump administration has shuttered a number of federal agencies, and ordered another tranche closed last Friday. —Sean Collins, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025

The final tranche of iPhones eligible for trade-in are the three released in 2017, that is, iPhone X: up to $65 ($60), iPhone 8 Plus: up to $65 ($60) and iPhone 8: up to $50 ($45). —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, slice, from Old French, from trenchier, trancher to cut — more at trench

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tranche

• blanch
• branch
• cranch
• ranch
• stanch
• avalanche

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Legal Definition

tranche

noun

ˈträⁿsh 

: a division or portion of a pool or whole: as

a

: an issue of bonds derived from a pooling of like obligations that is differentiated from other issues especially by maturity or rate of return

b

: a bond series issued for sale in a foreign country

Etymology

French, literally, slice, from Old French, from trenchier, trancher to cut