Refunds

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The practice of returning funds to a buyer due to reasons such as product dissatisfaction or service issues involves financial restitution
2. Gives back money previously paid because of a return, cancellation, or error
3. Repays an amount of money to someone who has paid, often due to returned goods or services

Etymology: "Refunds" is the plural of "refund", the noun for money handed back to someone who has paid. The verb and noun share a root that has nothing to do with funds. The English word comes from Middle English "refunden", which was borrowed from Old French "refondre" or "refonder", meaning "to restore" or "pay back." Those French forms descend from Latin "refundere", built from the prefix "re-" ("back" or "again") and "fundere", "to pour." The Latin verb's literal sense was pouring something back or pouring it out again, and that image of liquid flowing back is what lies behind the financial meaning: the money poured out to the seller comes back to the buyer. The same Latin verb gave English the word "refound", meaning to cast metal again, and it is related to "fuse", "to melt." Despite the similar spelling, "refund" is unrelated to "fund," which comes from a different Latin source.

Synonyms: reimbursements, repayments