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

Still, refinancing discussions continue, and depending on how that goes, the company could be forced to file for bankruptcy protection, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. —Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

The company issued several medium-term notes during the year to refinance existing debt and fund acquisitions. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2025

Bausch Health was working with Jefferies to refinance its debt in aid of a potential spinoff. —Aaron Weitzman, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025

This creates prepayment risk for mortgage lenders because today’s new mortgages may be refinanced at lower rates in subsequent years if interest rates decline as many expect. —Simon Moore, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

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)