down payment
noun
an initial amount paid at the time of purchase, in installment buying, time sales, etc.
down payments
-
pluralof down payment.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The cost has shown up in loan structure instead: longer terms, down payments that never fully retreated, and a persistently high share of borrowers starting underwater,” Gregory said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
The Urban Institute projects 30-year fixed rates could drop up to 0.2 percentage point, or 0.5 percentage point for 40% down payments.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
A 2025 Redfin survey found that almost 13% of millennial and Gen Z recent home buyers sold crypto investments to help fund their down payments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
Researchers looked at property prices, average salaries pre-tax, mortgage, interest rates and down payments and deposits to compare housing affordability across 151 cities in 11 countries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026
“Home values are falling in some areas and … down payments have been low in recent years among new buyers.”
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 9, 2026
