finance

finance — noun

1. the activity of handling money, credit, and investments, especially within gover

1.nounB1
Definition

the activity of handling money, credit, and investments, especially within governments, companies, or other large organizations.

Example

Eleni studied finance at university before joining a bank in Taipei.

The company's finance department handles all payments and prepares the annual budget.

collocation: finance department / public finance

Common collocations
  • personal finance
  • public finance
  • corporate finance
  • international finance
  • finance department
  • finance industry
Synonyms
  • money management

    a more basic, everyday term; finance is the formal name for the field.

  • financial affairs

    broader, can include personal budgeting; finance tends to refer to institutional or professional activity.

Usage Note

Often paired with an adjective like personal, public, corporate, or international to specify the domain.

Common Mistakes

I need to check my finance before buying a house.
I need to check my finances before buying a house.
when referring to your personal money situation, use the plural form finances.

2. the funds belonging to a person, company, or government, available to spend, sav

2.nounB1
Definition

the funds belonging to a person, company, or government, available to spend, save, or invest.

Example

The family's finances were stretched thin after the expensive home repairs.

Lakan checked his personal finances before agreeing to buy the car.

plural form 'finances' for personal money situation

Common collocations
  • personal finances
  • state of one's finances
  • manage one's finances
  • stretched finances
  • weak finances
  • put one's finances in order
Synonyms
  • funds

    more specific, often refers to money kept aside for a purpose; finance is more general.

  • resources

    broader, can include non-monetary assets; finance refers to money specifically.

  • capital

    used for business or investment money; finance covers personal money too.

Usage Note

Frequently used in the plural form finances to refer to someone's overall money situation. The singular form finance is less common in this sense and usually appears with a modifier such as state of.

Common Mistakes

His finance is in bad shape.
His finances are in bad shape.
use the plural when talking about how much money someone has.

3. the academic subject that explores how money, investments, and financial markets

3.nounB2
Definition

the academic subject that explores how money, investments, and financial markets operate, often studied at universities.

Example

Mateo wrote his thesis on behavioural finance and investor decision-making.

Corporate finance is one of the most popular courses in the MBA programme.

compound noun: corporate finance / behavioural finance

Common collocations
  • major in finance
  • degree in finance
  • professor of finance
  • behavioural finance
  • corporate finance
  • international finance
Synonyms
  • financial studies

    less common; finance is the standard name for the university subject.

  • financial economics

    a narrower subfield focused on economic theory; finance covers a wider range of practical topics.

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (MONEY MANAGEMENT): this sense names the field of study, not the practice itself. You study finance at university (sense 3) and then work in finance (sense 1).

4. money that is lent or given to a person, business, or organization to support a

4.nounB2
Definition

money that is lent or given to a person, business, or organization to support a specific purpose, such as a project or purchase.

Example

The startup secured finance from a group of private investors.

collocation: secure finance / arrange finance

Dahlia applied for finance to cover the cost of new kitchen equipment.

Common collocations
  • secure finance
  • arrange finance
  • short-term finance
  • long-term finance
  • additional finance
  • provide finance
Synonyms
  • funding

    very close synonym, often interchangeable; funding can include non-repayable grants, while finance often implies loans.

  • capital

    used more for investment in business assets; finance is broader and can cover personal or project loans.

  • financing

    the gerund form, very similar; 'financing' emphasizes the process of arranging the money.

Usage Note

Very close in meaning to the verb sense 1 (PROVIDE FUNDING). This noun sense emphasizes the money itself as an instrument or resource, while the verb focuses on the action of supplying it.

Common Mistakes

I need finance from the bank to buy a car.
I need financing from the bank to buy a car.' or 'I need finance for the car.
the noun finance in this sense is uncountable and not typically used with 'from' unless saying 'obtain finance'; 'financing' is more natural for the arranged loan.

finance — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe supplying money for something, but they differ in scope and formality. Fund is the closest synonym to finance; both are neutral in register and can apply to projects, education, or businesses — though fund often implies a partial contribution while finance tends to cover the full cost. Sponsor adds a publicity dimension: a company sponsors a sports team or an event in exchange for brand exposure. Underwrite is formal and technical, common in insurance and investment banking, where the provider assumes financial risk by guaranteeing to cover any shortfall. Bankroll is informal and slangy, suggesting one person pays for all of something, often an expensive habit or venture ('She bankrolled the entire film with her savings'). For everyday use, finance is the safest choice in professional writing; fund works well in both formal and casual contexts; sponsor fits promotional scenarios; underwrite belongs in legal and financial documents; bankroll is best saved for informal conversation.

fund ↗sponsor ↗underwritebankroll

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • source of finance
  • lack of finance
  • raise finance
  • short of finance
  • arrange finance

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'finance' entered English in the 1400s from Old French 'finance', which originally meant 'ending, settlement of a debt'. This came from 'finer' (to end or settle), and ultimately from Latin 'finis' (end, boundary). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'settling a debt' to 'money management' — first in the context of government revenue (where settling accounts was the goal), then widening to cover all systems of handling money, credit, and investments.