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

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

Brent crude prices are expected to average $86 a barrel this year, with global oil production likely to fall 1.5% in 2026, the World Bank said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The World Bank said in its 2024 development report that countries usually hit such a "trap" when they reach around 10 percent of annual US GDP per capita, which can prove tough to move past.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Watchdog Transparency International has listed Equatorial Guinea as one of the world's most corrupt states, while the World Bank reports that more than half of Equatoguineans live in poverty.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

A World Bank study found that 42.5 percent of Mexicans live on two dollars or less a day.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario