interest rate

[in-ter-ist reyt, -trist] / ˈɪn tər ɪst ˌreɪt, -trɪst /

NOUN

sum charged for use of money

Synonyms

STRONGEST

interest

WEAK

annual percentage rate bank rate borrowing rate lending rate price of money prime interest rate prime rate rate of interest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The federal-funds rate is the formal name for the Fed’s benchmark interest rate.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

Another, more controversial, idea is for the Fed to pay a lower interest rate on bank reserves above a certain threshold, Duffie said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

The U.K. rate setter estimates that the interest rate at which the BOE is neither stimulating nor restraining the economy is 3%, while the current rate is 3.75%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

He has previously branded Powell a "knucklehead" and claimed he was "doing a lousy job" after his repeated calls for interest rate cuts were ignored.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“At a low, low interest rate of six percent a month. That would make your monthly payment, after a reasonable down—”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick