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• buy-in
  buy-in

  noun

  an act or instance of buying in.
• buy in
  buy in

  verb

  (tr) to buy back for the owner (an item in an auction) at or below the reserve price

buy-in

American  

[bahy-in] / ˈbaɪˌɪn /

noun

1. an act or instance of buying in.

2. the deliberate submission of a false bid, too low to be met, in order to win a contract.

3. Poker. the chips purchased by a player from the banker, occasionally a set amount required to enter a specific competition or game.

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buy in British  

verb

1. (tr) to buy back for the owner (an item in an auction) at or below the reserve price

2. (intr) to purchase shares in a company

3. (intr) to buy goods or securities on the open market against a defaulting seller, charging this seller with any market differences

4. Also: buy into.  informal (tr) to pay money to secure a position or place for (someone, esp oneself) in some organization, esp a business or club

5. to purchase (goods, etc) in large quantities

   to buy in for the winter

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noun

1. the purchase of a company by a manager or group who does not work for that company

Etymology

Origin of buy-in

Noun use of verb phrase buy in

Example Sentences

“If we were to leave, we would lose a portion of our buy-in — about $80,000.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

If we were to leave, we would lose a portion of our buy-in — about $80,000.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

A less visible Fed would require buy-in from colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

On its December balance sheet, however, StepStone had $266 million of cash, and it has previously warned investors that it may need to seek equity or debt financing to fund the buy-in.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

“But you need buy-in from everyone in the group. Give it some more thought. How can you help the shelter? How can each of you get something out of the experience?”

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty