refund
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to give back or restore (especially money); repay.
-
to make repayment to; reimburse.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
refunds
plural
-
an act or instance of refunding.
-
an amount refunded.
verb (used with object)
-
to fund anew.
-
Finance.
-
to meet (a matured debt structure) by new borrowing, especially through issuance of bonds.
-
to replace (an old issue) with a new one.
-
verb
-
to give back (money), as when an article purchased is unsatisfactory
-
to reimburse (a person)
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
nonrefundabilitynoun
-
refundabilitynoun
-
refundernoun
-
refundmentnoun
-
nonrefundableadjective
-
refundableadjective
-
unrefundableadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of refund1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb refunden “to export, transmit,” from Old French refonder, refunder “to reimburse” and Latin refundere “to pour back,” equivalent to re- re- + fundere “to pour”; see found 3
Origin of refund2
Explanation
To refund is to give money back, especially when someone isn't satisfied with an item they bought or the service they got. If you complain that your restaurant food is undercooked, the manager may refund your money. When you don't actually get what you paid for, you deserve a refund, or a repayment of the money you spent. Most businesses will refund money to unhappy customers, and when you return something — like a pair of pants that doesn't fit — you'll also get a refund. The verb came before the noun, and it originally meant "to pour back," from the Latin root fundere, "to pour."
Vocabulary lists containing refund
Tax Day Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Exemptions, Deductions, and Loopholes: Tax Day Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 15–May 21, 2021
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
DHL says it proactively filed refund claims for all shipments where it acted as the importer of record, adding around 92% of eligible customer refunds have been returned to customers as of mid-September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Other than our contact information, we had to upload just two documents — one detailing our proposed tuition and fees, and the other with our refund policy.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
The woman's complaint was instead investigated by a manager who was himself criticised in it, and the customer services team offered her a refund for her night's stay, which she understood to be £30.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
"We will publish details regarding the refund terms and conditions shortly," it added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
It was too late to get a refund anyway, and besides, he didn’t want Dimple Shah to think he’d come all this way simply for her.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
DHL says it proactively filed refund claims for all shipments where it acted as the importer of record, adding around 92% of eligible customer refunds have been returned to customers as of mid-September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
In June, the company said that it had received $800 million in refunds that belong to its customers and that it would start disbursing the funds in August.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
The museum later apologised to those who had been unable to enter and said they would be issued refunds and priority booking slots for a rearranged time.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
In response, Booking.com reiterated: "All of the impacted listings were removed and customers with future stays contacted and supported, which, depending on their individual circumstances, could mean relocations, refunds or free cancellations."
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
I’m sure there will be paperwork to do and refunds to get from Saint Augustine’s.
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
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.
