Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

microfinance

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.58 in modern English

Syllables: mi-cro-fi-nance
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Finance that is provided to unemployed or low-income people or groups.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Microfinance, once a relative cottage industry championed by antipoverty activists and development wonks, is on the verge of a revolution, with billions of dollars from big banks, private-equity shops and pension funds pouring in."

Etymology

From micro- + finance. Coined by German sociologist and economist Hans Dieter Seibel in 1990.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: micro

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

microfinances (plural)

Derived Forms

microfinancial microfinancier microfinancing

Frequently Paired Words

macrofinance microcredit microinsurance microlending

Questions

What does microfinance mean?: Finance that is provided to unemployed or low-income people or groups.
Where does microfinance come from?: From micro- + finance. Coined by German sociologist and economist Hans Dieter Seibel in 1990.

How to pronounce microfinance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “microfinance”.
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