origination fee

American

[aw-rij-uh-ney-shuhn fee, o-rij‐] / ɔˌrɪdʒ əˈneɪ ʃən ˈfi, ɒˌrɪdʒ‐ /

noun

Finance.

a fee charged by a lender for evaluating and processing a loan application, typically a one-time fee taken out up-front as a percentage of the face value of the loan.

Etymology

Origin of origination fee

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

See Examples For:

origination fee

And then shop around among banks for a competitive interest rate and the lowest origination fee, if any.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026

WSJ | Buy Side: Some personal loans charge no origination fee, but compare interest rates and other terms to get a good deal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

But yeah, the bankers, they got a big origination fee.

From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2022

Factor in the cost of the origination fee and monthly payment to determine whether you’ll save money over time.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 18, 2022

The loan origination fee can range from $2,130 to $3,105; the application fee, typically from $65 to $640; and points can add $5,700.

From New York Times ● Jan. 28, 2011

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