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

But sending weapons to Ukraine now and threatening a new tranche of economic pressure against Russia to achieve a ceasefire and ultimately a deal to end the war—a Trump priority that Zelensky accepted and Putin scorned—could work as a one-two punch, if the sanctions truly bite. —Daniel Fried, Time, 15 July 2025

Brown, Penn and Harvard are among a group of eight Ivy League universities that all received letters from the committee In April, demanding a huge tranche of documents and records. —Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 2 July 2025

The answer was to create a structure with junior and senior tranches, establishing an orphan Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Singapore to act as the lender of record. —Anne Field, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Negotiators agreed to pack in $5 million for transportation improvements associated with the upcoming 2026 World Cup, one of the first tranches of cash to be set aside for what is set to be a massive influx of soccer fans and tourists to the Boston area. —Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 18 June 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