microloan

noun

mi·​cro·​loan ˌmī-krō-ˈlōn How to pronounce microloan (audio)
plural microloans
: a small loan typically for financing entrepreneurial projects by impoverished individuals and groups especially in poor or developing regions
An advocate of economic power for women and a founder of women's World Banking, she [Esther Afua Ocloo] led the movement offering microloans to run small businesses around the world.Ellen Sweet

Examples of microloan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This may lead some to riskier alternatives like microloans or credit cards. Ikram Mansori, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Meanwhile the Central Bank and Ministry of Labor have funded a special public education program on financial literacy to warn of the dangers of payday loans and microloans. Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024 Actor and philanthropist Matt Damon also took the stage at the Plaza, appearing with his Water.org co-founder Gary White to discuss the success the nonprofit has had in bringing clean water to populations around the world via microloans. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Oct. 2024 By using microloans, those very small loans pioneered by Grameen Bank’s Muhammad Yunus, for water, the 16-year-old nonprofit has been able to reach 69 million people, up from 1 million in 2012. Amy Feldman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for microloan 

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microloan was in 1988

Dictionary Entries Near microloan

Cite this Entry

“Microloan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microloan. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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