finance
Americannoun
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the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment.
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finances, the monetary resources, as of a government, company, organization, or individual; revenue.
verb (used with object)
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finances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
financed,
past participle, past
-
financing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
finances,
present (3rd person singular)
-
financed,
past participle, past
-
financing
present participle
noun
-
the system of money, credit, etc, esp with respect to government revenues and expenditures
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funds or the provision of funds
-
(plural) funds; financial condition
verb
-
(tr) to provide or obtain funds, capital, or credit for
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(intr) to manage or secure financial resources
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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superfinancenoun
-
prefinanceverb (used with object)
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self-financeverb (used with object)
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underfinanceverb (used with object)
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financeableadjective
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unfinancedadjective
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well-financedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
financesimple
-
financessimple
-
have financedperfect
-
has financedperfect
-
am financingprogressive
-
are financingprogressive
-
is financingprogressive
-
have been financingperfect progressive
-
has been financingperfect progressive
Past
-
financedsimple
-
had financedperfect
-
was financingprogressive
-
were financingprogressive
-
had been financingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of finance
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English finaunce, from Anglo-French, Middle French finance, from fin(er) “to end, settle, pay” ( see fine 2) + -ance -ance
Explanation
To finance something is to pay for it, like using the money you earn at your part-time job to finance your cell phone bill. As a verb, it carries two very different meanings: "to pay for" or "obtain on credit." So, if you can finance your trip, it means you have the money to pay for it. Anyone who works in finance, meaning the banking and investment industry, will tell you plenty of people get in trouble by letting credit cards finance things like vacations.
Vocabulary lists containing finance
"Women in Aviation," Vocabulary from the informational text
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Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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Economics
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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.
See Examples For:
The company’s chief financial officer, Humphrey Singer, was finance chief at Marks & Spencer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Burke's management company Mogul Vision and finance manager have previously denied knowing about Burke and Rivas Hernandez, the Los Angeles Times, external reported.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
The plan has also sparked criticism from some leaders in finance, including Stanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire investor and mentor.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
I’m Genna Contino, an award-winning journalist on MarketWatch’s personal finance team.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Two others were in the haberdashery business, one had a graphic design studio, another made feather hats, and another worked in the finance department at Tishman Realty.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
This implies a higher cost of borrowing for the government, at a time when public finances are under pressure.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
New U.S. sanctions have disrupted Tehran’s finances, sending its currency tumbling and forcing cuts to fuel subsidies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Schulz said it’s important to talk to parents about their finances even when such talks can be uncomfortable or even taboo in your family.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
“They work abroad, and all the finances they gather there, they could invest here.”
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
“As a public library, Mr. Lemoncello, this institution needs a board of trustees to oversee its finances and champion its mission.”
From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein
Yes, because they have withstood the loss of huge names to a breakaway tour that has been financed to the tune of $5bn and that tour has now filed for bankruptcy protection.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
How they financed it: Down payment of 12%, 30-year mortgage, rate was 6.8%
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
The project, now estimated to cost roughly $400 million, is supposedly being financed through private donations rather than a congressional appropriation.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
The deal was financed with capital from his Imani Media Group.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
If the research program had been adequately financed to permit full coverage, the destruction revealed would have been even more appalling.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
The Boring Company on Thursday said it had closed a Series D financing round led by the United Arab Emirates and its affiliates that values the company at $23 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Still, the barriers to scaling are high, as financing costs are expensive and often depend on getting large government contracts, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The financing announced Wednesday includes fresh investments at the site and three other locations spread throughout the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The sanctions will target companies and people providing services like construction and financing of settlements.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
If the right people knew of the project’s success, Hiatt added, PIH might be able to secure new financing for its work.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
