Skip to the word

Added 3 October 2026

interest

/ˈɪn.tɹɛst/ noun

In Latin: faenus, usura Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about interest at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The price paid for obtaining, or price received for providing, money or goods in a credit transaction, calculated as a fraction of the amount or value of what was borrowed. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Our bank offers borrowers an annual interest of 5%.
Any excess over and above an exact equivalent
A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.
He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.

verb

To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.
It might interest you to learn that others have already tried that approach.
To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.
To cause or permit to share.

Origin

From Middle English interest, from Old French interesse and interest (French intérêt), from Medieval Latin interesse, from Latin interesse.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word