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.

If you bought into a 1-year CD in May 2025 that has now come due, you may have enjoyed a 4.5% interest rate, or even higher if you got a special deal.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

A borrower with a strong credit history is more likely to get a lower interest rate on a loan.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Emerging markets tend to do better when the dollar is weak, and UBS strategists note the dollar’s recent inability to strengthen despite real interest rate differentials with Europe and better-than-expected economic growth.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Logic says that when debt levels rise, investors perception of debt repayment worsens and they demand a higher interest rate on debt, increasing the already high interest burden on the government.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

If Morgan Stanley went bust, Chrysler, along with anyone else who had done interest rate swaps with Morgan Stanley, stood to suffer.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis