refund

¹ American  

[ri-fuhnd, ree-fuhnd, ree-fuhnd] / rɪˈfʌnd, ˈri fʌnd, ˈri fʌnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to give back or restore (especially money); repay.

2. to make repayment to; reimburse.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make repayment.

noun

1. an act or instance of refunding.

2. an amount refunded.

refund ² American  

[ree-fuhnd] / riˈfʌnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to fund anew.

2. Finance.

   1. to meet (a matured debt structure) by new borrowing, especially through issuance of bonds.

   2. to replace (an old issue) with a new one.

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refund British  

verb

1. to give back (money), as when an article purchased is unsatisfactory

2. to reimburse (a person)

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noun

1. return of money to a purchaser or the amount so returned

Other Word Forms

• nonrefundability noun
• nonrefundable adjective
• refundability noun
• refundable adjective
• refunder noun
• refundment noun
• unrefundable adjective

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

First recorded in 1855–60; re- + fund

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."

Example Sentences

Some businesses sold their right to a refund to hedge funds.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

For certain higher-value returns, the company uses artificial-intelligence technology to help verify that the returned item is authentic before a refund is issued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Customs & Border Protection launched a tariff refund portal, but importers immediately encountered error messages and system issues.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

“As expected, today’s refund portal launch is a mixed bag for small businesses,” said Dan Anthony, executive director of the advocacy group We Pay the Tariffs, in a statement.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

“You can usually get them to give you a refund if you make enough noise.”

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Related Words

• allowance
• compensation
• discount
• kickback
• payment
• rebate
• reimbursement
• repayment
• restitution