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

Did you know?

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

Lutnick has faced growing bipartisan pressure to testify about his ties to Epstein after the Justice Department's release of a tranche of documents that suggested Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein years after claiming to have distanced himself from him. —Maegan Vazquez The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026

That’s nearly thirteen years after Epstein initially expressed interest in joining the project, six years after he was found dead in a jail cell, and just one day after the latest tranche of investigation files were released by the Department of Justice. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026

That initial tranche of transcripts was followed on December 12 by another eighteen pages spanning January 29 through June 28, 1942. —Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026

Most of the latest tranche of reserves spending came at the behest of a subcommittee controlled by Democratic Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe, according to county documents. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

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

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