crowdfunding
|crowd-fund-ing|
/ˈkraʊdˌfʌndɪŋ/
many people give small amounts
Etymology
'crowdfunding' originates from modern English, formed by combining the noun 'crowd' (a large group of people) and the noun/verb 'fund' (to provide money), with the suffix '-ing' to form a noun/gerund.
'crowd' comes from Middle English and early modern English meaning 'a throng or large group', while 'fund' derives from Latin 'fundus' (bottom, foundation) via Old French and Middle English; the compound 'crowd + funding' was coined in the early 21st century with the rise of internet platforms, eventually becoming 'crowdfunding'.
Initially it literally meant 'funding provided by a crowd'; over time it has come to denote specifically the organized practice (often online) and the ecosystem (platforms, backers, reward models) associated with raising small amounts from many people.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice or method of funding a project, venture, or cause by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet and online platforms.
The startup raised enough money through crowdfunding to launch its product.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/13 19:44