down payment

American  

Or down-payment

noun

• down payments
  plural

1. an initial amount paid at the time of purchase, in installment buying, time sales, etc.

2. any initial or partial payment, gift, favor, or recompense, as to reduce one's indebtedness or express one's obligation or gratitude.

   This gift is just a down payment for all the favors I owe you.

---

down payment British  

noun

1. the deposit paid on an item purchased on hire-purchase, mortgage, etc

---

down payment Cultural  

1. A payment in part made at the time of purchase of a good, with the promise to make full payment later.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• down payments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of down payment

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

down payment

Because you aren’t saving for a down payment, the key is to invest sooner, and contribute at a higher rate than if you had bought a home using your cost savings from renting.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

For investors saving for near-term milestones such as a home down payment, Mayo recommends ultra-short-term bond funds so their savings don’t lose value if the market drops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The Grammy-award winning rapper may have already received a down payment worth millions of dollars for the planned Russian dates, Fontanka reported.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

“There’s always more to do. This is a really strong down payment, if you will, on protecting our kids. It is transformative. It is a watershed moment. It is a milestone mark,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

“A son of Jupiter tempted us with favors. A new home, he promised. Bigger and better! No down payment, an excellent neighborhood. Rome will last forever.”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• deposit