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World Bank

American  

noun

  1. an international bank established in 1944 to help member nations reconstruct and develop, especially by guaranteeing loans: a specialized agency of the United Nations.


World Bank British  

noun

  1. Officially called: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.  an international cooperative organization established in 1945 under the Bretton Woods Agreement to assist economic development, esp of backward nations, by the advance of loans guaranteed by member governments

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Mr. Thomas concludes that because cutting carbon dioxide yields some benefits, development institutions like the World Bank must make it a priority.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

The World Bank makes loans to support infrastructure, business development and other projects in developing countries.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

More often in recent years, the funds that the World Bank advances have been intended not only to jump-start projects but also to seed parallel investments from the private sector, lifting the development bank’s impact.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 17, 2026

At times, Laos has struggled to provide power to its neighbours and finds itself importing energy, at significant cost, according to a recent World Bank report.

From Barron's Sep. 13, 2026

In March 2012, President Obama nominated him to be president of the World Bank, a post to which he won election three months later.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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