finance

1 of 2

noun

fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio) ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio)
fī-ˈnan(t)s
1
finances plural : money or other liquid resources of a government, business, group, or individual
The library closed due to a lack of finances.
2
: the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities
3
: the science or study of the management of funds
An expert in finance predicts a global recession.
4
: the obtaining of funds or capital : financing
business expansion for which finance would otherwise be unavailableF. D. Roosevelt

finance

2 of 2

verb

financed; financing

transitive verb

1
a
: to raise or provide funds or capital for
finance a new house
b
: to furnish with necessary funds
finance a son through college
2
: to sell something to on credit

Examples of finance in a Sentence

Noun She's taking a course on personal finance. an expert in finance who predicts global economic disaster The library closed due to a lack of finances. Verb His parents financed his college education. The study was financed by a government grant. They financed him to study abroad.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
During his first term, Trump appointed Steve Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive who had been his campaign’s finance chair, to be Treasury Secretary. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Local media reports said hundreds of amateur videos had been found at the finance official’s home during a raid associated with a corruption investigation. Reuters, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Mile End Kicks is produced by Matthew Miller and Pat Kiely, with XYZ Films financing along with IPR.VC and is handling worldwide sales. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 For instance, governments might issue green bonds to finance a solar power plant or companies might use them to upgrade to energy-efficient infrastructure. Christer Holloman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for finance 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French finances, going back to Middle French, "monetary resources, revenue," in singular, "money, resource," from finer "to pay by way of settlement, make a payment" (derivative of fin "final agreement, payment, fine entry 3") + -ance -ance

Note: In the current senses, finance is borrowed directly from French, though the word existed in English with early senses going back to medieval French; cf. Middle English fynaunce "ending, outcome, monetary payment, ransom," borrowed from Anglo-French in these senses.

Verb

derivative of finance entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of finance was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near finance

Cite this Entry

“Finance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finance. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun
fi·​nance fə-ˈnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio) ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s How to pronounce finance (audio)
fī-ˈnan(t)s
1
plural : resources (as money) available to a government, person, group, or business
2
: the obtaining or providing of funds or capital
3
: the system that includes the circulation of money, the providing of banks and credit, and the making of investments
financial
fə-ˈnan-chəl
fī-
adjective
financially
-ˈnanch-(ə-)lē
adverb

finance

2 of 2 verb
financed; financing
: to provide money for
finance a trip

Legal Definition

finance

1 of 2 noun
fi·​nance
1
plural : money or other liquid resources of a government, business, group, or individual
2
: the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities
3
: the science or study of the management of funds
4
: the obtaining of funds or capital : financing

finance

2 of 2 transitive verb
financed; financing
1
a
: to raise or provide funds or capital for
finance a takeover
b
: to furnish with necessary funds
2
: to sell something to on credit

More from Merriam-Webster on finance

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