investment

1 of 2

noun (1)

in·​vest·​ment in-ˈves(t)-mənt How to pronounce investment (audio)
Synonyms of investmentnext
: the outlay of money usually for income or profit : capital outlay
also : the sum invested or the property purchased

investment

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: investiture sense 1
2
: blockade, siege
3
a
: an outer layer : envelope
b
archaic : vestment

Synonyms of investment

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Noun (2)

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Examples of investment in a Sentence

Noun (2) the investment of Cuba was one of the decisive moments in the Cuban Missile Crisis the investment of a new diocesan bishop is typically a grand and solemn occasion
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In April, Flock Safety opened a 97,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Smyrna that is intended to create more than 200 jobs over the next three years as part of a $10 million investment. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026 Higher benchmark yields can lift financing costs even for healthy companies, potentially making some factories, data centers, acquisitions and other investments less economically viable. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Against that backdrop, market organizers must ensure any event offers buyers and sellers a clear return on investment. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 At the highest levels, a handbag can represent a very significant discretionary spend, and customers are asking themselves whether the product feels sufficiently distinctive to justify that investment. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for investment

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

invest entry 1

Noun (2)

invest entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1774, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of investment was in 1597

Phrases Containing investment

Rhymes for investment

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Browse Nearby Words

investiture
investment
investment bank
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Investment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investment. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

investment

2 of 2 noun
1
: the outlay of money for income or profit
2
: a sum of money invested or a property purchased

Medical Definition

investment

noun
in·​vest·​ment in-ˈves(t)-mənt How to pronounce investment (audio)
1
: an external covering of a cell, part, or organism
2
: a layer of heat-resistant material in which a dental appliance (as a bridge or inlay) is cast or in which it is embedded before soldering

Legal Definition

investment

1 of 2 noun
in·​vest·​ment
: investiture sense 1

investment

2 of 2 noun
1
: the outlay of money usually for income or profit : capital outlay
also : the sum invested or the property purchased
2
: the commitment of funds with a view to minimizing risk and safeguarding capital while earning a return compare speculation

More from Merriam-Webster on investment

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about investment

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