crowdfunding
noun
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Crowdsourcing and crowdfunding are two words that have recently found their way into the crowded pool of English. Crowdsourcing, which typically refers to the practice of soliciting services, ideas, or content from a large group of people online, was coined by Jeff Howe in a 2006 article in Wired, and crowdfunding was created by entrepreneur Michael Sullivan in that same year. Both words conceptualize "the crowd" as a vast online community from which something needed may be obtained. In crowdsourcing, the crowd is called upon for needed assistance or information. A well-known use of crowdsourcing is Wikipedia, whose content is the result of various contributors. Crowdfunding, on the other hand, involves a more specific request: the crowd is solicited for financial contributions to a particular venture or cause, such as a film project or cancer research.
Examples of crowdfunding in a Sentence
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
The usual crowdfunding cautions apply, but if all goes to plan, the global version is estimated to ship in April 2025, while the North America version will start going out in May 2025.
—New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
In Review Jenkins claimed Angel Studios kept more than its fair share of the crowdfunding money.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024
Supporters have also donated to his legal defense fund through a campaign on the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crowdfunding 
Dictionary Entries Near crowdfunding
Cite this Entry
“Crowdfunding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crowdfunding. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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