# funds

/ˈfəndz/ (US) · /fˈʌndz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/funds
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. available money

noun · CEFR B2

money that you have available to spend on something.

For teachers: financial resources or capital available for a particular purpose. Often used in the plural to refer to a total amount of money.

- The charity is trying to raise funds to build a new hospital.
- The project was unfortunately cancelled when the board of directors decided to withdraw the necessary funds at the last minute.

### 2. government debt

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

money that a government owes and pays interest on.

For teachers: permanent debts due by a government on which interest is paid. Usually refers to government bonds or securities.

- He invested his savings in government funds for a steady return.
- The stability of the national funds remained a primary concern for international investors during the period of economic restructuring.

Usage: Usually preceded by 'the'.

## Examples

- The school is raising funds for a new library.
- The project was delayed for several months because the government failed to release the necessary funds on time.
- Despite a significant increase in private donations, the non-profit organization still lacks sufficient funds to expand its operations into the rural provinces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
