# lender

/ˈɫɛndɝ/ (US) · /lˈɛndɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lender
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. financial institution or person

noun · CEFR B2

a person or company, such as a bank, that lends money to people or businesses.

For teachers: an entity, typically a financial institution, that provides capital to a borrower under a credit agreement.

- The bank is a major lender to small businesses in this city.
- Before approving the mortgage, the lender required a comprehensive audit of the couple's financial history and current assets.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to' when identifying the recipient of the loan.

## Examples

- The lender approved my application for a small business loan.
- Before signing the contract, make sure you compare the interest rates offered by each private lender.
- In a tightening credit market, the primary lender may require additional collateral to mitigate the risk of a potential default by the borrower.

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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.
