funds
Britishplural noun
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money that is readily available
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British government securities representing national debt
Explanation
The money you have available at a given time are your funds. If you only get paid once a month, you have to budget carefully so you don't run out of funds between paychecks. The word funds comes from the Latin word fundus, which means "bottom," "base," or "a piece of property." It's not clear how the noun funds got from property to available cash, but perhaps the connection came because a person could base his financial security on being able to sell his land if he needed ready money. If your kids are low on funds, they will probably hit you up for an advance on their allowances. The request will probably begin something like, "How much do you love me?" Too bad that doesn't work at your bank!
Vocabulary lists containing funds
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963), List 1
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Supreme Court healthcare ruling
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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.
Flood also said flagged some issues with hedge funds that are using a ton of borrowed money to bet on markets right now.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
The Ladies European Tour's PIF Global Series includes five events in three continents, with tournaments in England, Las Vegas, Seoul, Shenzhen and Riyadh where prize funds total $15m.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Soccer boss Gianni Infantino defends the pricing strategy as both market-reflective and a critical source of funds that are distributed to soccer federations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
The rest is invested in stocks and mutual funds, with $80,000 held in cash or cash equivalents.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
Pennsy was a true and loyal friend, and if you had the funds she was happy to take you wherever you might like to go.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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.
