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.

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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

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Example Sentences

Some 90 million Nigerians -- a third of the nation -- don't have access to electricity at all, according to the World Bank.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

U.S. affordability of fertilizer is slated to fall to its lowest level since 2022, and that will erode farmers’ incomes and threaten future crop yields, the World Bank said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

It is especially vulnerable to climate change and has high rates of unemployment and health issues, a recent World Bank assessment said.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

The World Bank has cut its growth forecast for the Middle East to 1.8% this year, as a result of the war, warning the fallout could result in long-term "scarring".

From BBC • May 6, 2026

On our flight to Moscow, Farmer told me that the World Bank was planning to make a loan to Russia to help prevent a full-blown TB epidemic.

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