Fannie Mae

American  

Or Fanny Mae

noun

1. Federal National Mortgage Association.

2. any of the publicly traded securities collateralized by a pool of mortgages backed by the Federal National Mortgage Association.

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Fannie Mae British  

/ ˈfænɪ meɪ /

noun

1. (in the US)an informal name for the Federal National Mortgage Association, a private company that buys and sells mortgage debt

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Etymology

Origin of Fannie Mae

Altered from FNMA, the association's initials

Compare meaning

How does fannie-mae compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Ginnie Mae vs. Fannie Mae

Example Sentences

Immediately on confirmation he was handed a second giant portfolio—chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares fell following the announcement.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages that they either hold or sell as securities, creating liquidity for the housing market.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte, who also leads the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was named as the acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

But Aunt Fannie Mae knew what to do with me.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson