refinance

verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnan(t)s  (ˌ)rē-ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s 

ˌrē-(ˌ)fī-ˈnan(t)s

refinanced; refinancing; refinances

transitive + intransitive

: to renew or reorganize the financing of something : to provide for (an outstanding indebtedness) by making or obtaining another loan or a larger loan on fresh terms

refinance a mortgage

With rates tumbling, pay a little more now and retain the flexibility to refinance again next year.

—Daniel Kadlec

Examples of refinance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some will be sold to a buyer who refinances the debt on the way in. —Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

To improve their chances of success, however, borrowers who are looking to buy a home or refinance their existing mortgage loan should know both what moves to make and which costly mistakes to avoid. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 June 2026

Applications to refinance a home loan fell 2% for the week and were 20% higher than the same week one year ago. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 3 June 2026

In 2022, Bloomberg reported that its analysis found the bank denied more than half of Black homeowners who sought to refinance in 2020. —Chase Jordan june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refinance

• circumstance
• esperance
• exceedance
• happenstance
• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance

Legal Definition

refinance

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​fi·​nance ˌrē-fə-ˈnans, -ˈfī-ˌnans 

1

: to renew or reorganize the financing of

2

: to revise the terms of (a debt obligation) especially in regard to interest rate or payment schedule

refinance a mortgage

intransitive verb

: to finance something anew

refinance

2 of 2 noun

: a financing of something anew

especially : a revision of the terms of a debt obligation (as a mortgage)