finance

[ fi-nans, fahy-nans ]

See synonyms for: finance financed finances financing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.
finances, the monetary resources, as of a government, company, organization, or individual; revenue.

verb (used with object),fi·nanced, fi·nanc·ing.

to supply with money or capital; obtain money or credit for.

verb (used without object),fi·nanced, fi·nanc·ing.

to raise money or capital needed for financial operations.

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 fine²) + -ance -ance

Other words from finance

fi·nance·a·ble, adjective
pre·fi·nance, verb (used with object), pre·fi·nanced, pre·fi·nanc·ing.
self-fi·nance, verb (used with object), self·-fi·nanced, self·-fi·nanc·ing.
su·per·fi·nance, noun, verb, su·per·fi·nanced, su·per·fi·nanc·ing.
un·der·fi·nance, verb (used with object), un·der·fi·nanced, un·der·fi·nanc·ing.
un·fi·nanced, adjective
well-fi·nanced, adjective

Words that may be confused with finance

accounting, bookkeeping, finance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use finance in a sentence

Nor am I particularly responsible with my personal finances.
Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You? | Lizzie Crocker | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Their authors promise that your spirit will be improved, your ambition honed, and your finances maximized by their advice.
Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You? | Lizzie Crocker | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Similar to how Tyra taught me that I must know every aspect of my company, I must know every aspect of my personal finances.
Q&A With Designer Rachel Roy | Cynthia Allum | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A second area that Republican challengers could have raised: how the Senate handles the reporting of personal finances.
A Conservative Explains Why The GOP Could Lose | Bill Whalen | November 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the aftermath of the American Revolution, George Washington was keen to rebuild his personal finances.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism | William O’Connor | October 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Maud Barrington's finances must be made secure before he left Silverdale, and he must remain at any cost until the wheat was sold.
Winston of the Prairie | Harold Bindloss
Again the thought hammered home: such a quantity of paper in circulation must affect the national finances of Britain.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
The state of her finances was such that she must be quite unable to fit out even a single squadron of moderate size.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington Macaulay
The finances of the country are being taxed to the utmost to find the extra "palm-oil" which these mercenaries demand.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914 | Various
The state of the finances was more satisfactory than during the last session.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for finance

finance

/ (fɪˈnæns, ˈfaɪnæns) /

noun

the system of money, credit, etc, esp with respect to government revenues and expenditures
funds or the provision of funds

(plural) funds; financial condition

verb

(tr) to provide or obtain funds, capital, or credit for
(intr) to manage or secure financial resources

Origin of finance

C14: from Old French, from finer to end, settle by payment

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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