home equity loan

American

[hohm ek-wi-tee lohn] / ˈhoʊm ˈɛk wɪ ti ˌloʊn /

Or home-equity loan

noun

Personal Finance.

a loan above and beyond a mortgage that a homeowner can take out to generate cash, using the equity in the home as collateral.

Etymology

Origin of home equity loan

First recorded in 1980–85

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.

WSJ | Buy Side: Learn how to get the best rate on a home equity loan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

In addition to the $80,000 withdrawal, the Grunigs took out a $35,000 home equity loan to complete the lower floor unit.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2023

After the ADU was finished, the property was reassessed for $1.6 million, which helped them secure a home equity loan to replace the Spanish home with the new main house.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2023

And I don’t think I have enough equity in my condo to pay for a home equity loan.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2022

But if she has a solid interest rate, she may be better off taking out a home equity loan or line of credit.

From Washington Post • Sep. 5, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023