interest rate
Americannoun
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Business. the amount that a lender charges a borrower for taking out a loan, for maintaining a balance on debt, etc.: typically expressed as an annual percentage of the loan balance.
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Banking. the amount earned on a savings, checking, or money market account, or on an investment, such as a certificate of deposit or bond: typically expressed as an annual percentage of the account balance or investment sum.
Etymology
Origin of interest rate
First recorded in 1885–90
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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.
Demand for bonds declined and Treasury yields rose for the second consecutive session as markets grappled with hostilities in the Middle East and high interest rate expectations in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The prior selloff in chip stocks was driven by Broadcom’s guidance and interest rate concerns; Nvidia now trades at 20.16 times forward earnings.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
If you still haven’t paid, the IRS penalties are growing at a 6% annual interest rate.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
The ECB is widely expected to raise its key short-term interest rate from 2% to 2.25%.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The figures were not the same, nor was the interest rate.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
