fund

American  

[fuhnd] / fʌnd /

noun

1. a supply of money or pecuniary resources, as for some purpose.

   a fund for his education;

   a retirement fund.

2. supply; stock.

   a fund of knowledge;

   a fund of jewels.

   Synonyms:

   hoard, mine, fount, reservoir, store

3. funds, money immediately available; pecuniary resources.

   to be momentarily without funds.

4. an organization created to administer or manage a fund, as of money invested or contributed for some special purpose.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide a fund to pay the interest or principal of (a debt).

2. to convert (general outstanding debts) into a more or less permanent debt, represented by interest-bearing bonds.

3. to allocate or provide funds for (a program, project, etc.).

fund British  

/ fʌnd /

noun

1. a reserve of money, etc, set aside for a certain purpose

2. a supply or store of something; stock

   it exhausted his fund of wisdom

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verb

1. to furnish money to in the form of a fund

2. to place or store up in a fund

3. to convert (short-term floating debt) into long-term debt bearing fixed interest and represented by bonds

4. to provide a fund for the redemption of principal or payment of interest of

5. to accumulate a fund for the discharge of (a recurrent liability)

   to fund a pension plan

6. to invest (money) in government securities See also funds

Other Word Forms

• funder noun
• nonfunded adjective
• overfund noun
• prefund verb (used with object)
• underfund verb (used with object)
• underfunded adjective
• underfunding noun

Etymology

Origin of fund

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin fundus “bottom, estate”; replacing fond ² in most of its senses

Explanation

A fund is a supply of money to be used for a specific purpose. You can start a fund for almost anything, such as your child’s education, a new car, or the establishment of the world’s largest origami collection. Fund can be used as a verb meaning “provide funds for something.” If you’re unable to save up the money to start your origami collection, you might ask a friend to fund it. (We predict she’ll say no.) An organization that raises money for a particular, often charitable, purpose can also be called a fund. We doubt an origami collection warrants its own fund, but there's no harm in trying.

Example Sentences

With a team of analysts and traders in Dubai, London and Houston, Liu operates what some inside and outside the firm view as an internal hedge fund.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Unlike a debt-focused fund, where the upside is capped, a private-equity manager can manufacture home-run performance on paper by marking up ownership stakes in closely held companies or other private-equity funds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

As usual, ordinary investors leave an energy fund out of their portfolios at their own risk.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Hedge fund Jana Partners reportedly has built up a more than 5% stake in Lamb Weston.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

It was the largest refusal of a prize fund in sports history.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• capital
• endowment
• foundation
• stock
• supply
• treasury
• trust