installment loan

American  

[in-stawl-muhnt lohn] / ɪnˈstɔl mənt ˌloʊn /

noun

Finance.

1. a loan that allows someone to borrow a set amount of money and to repay it over a predetermined fixed period of time in regular installments, normally set up by the lender with equal installments that include both interest on the loan plus gradual repayment of the principal.

   They bought their new home and car using installment loans.

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Etymology

Origin of installment loan

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

The installment loan product allows customers to break up the cost of larger purchases into several fixed monthly payments, typically over a longer span than Klarna’s interest-free options.

From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025

Also, if you are looking to make a bigger purchase, like furniture, a computer, or another big-ticket item, you can consider financing it with an installment loan.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2023

Some lenders suspend payments temporarily, while others may require that the installment loan be paid as agreed, until the inquiry concludes.

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2022

The “ buy now, pay later ” transaction is simple: Shoppers are offered an installment loan at the point of purchase, spreading the cost of the product across several payments.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2022

Enter the online installment loan, aimed in part at a fast expanding group of “near-prime” borrowers — those with bad, but not terrible, credit — with limited access to traditional banking options.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2019