Etymologically
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financial

Etymology and origin of the English word financial

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1769
Ultimate origin
English (finance,-ial)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /faɪˈnæn.ʃəl/, /fɪ-/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English finance + -ial.[2][3][4] Klein says it was coined by the British statesman Edmund Burke.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to finance or money matters: 1769.[2][6][4]

Semantic evolution

Financially is from 1795.[6] A member of a society who pays a subscription, as opposed to an honorary one, is financial from 1892.[6] In Australian and New Zealand slang financial means “having money”, from 1926.[6] Financial modelling is from 1972,[6] and financials, shares in financial companies, from 1971.[6]

Timeline

  • 1769 – relating to finance.[2][6]
  • 1795 – financially.[6]
  • 1892 – paying a subscription.[6]
  • 1926 – having money, in Australian slang.[6]
  • 1971 – financials, shares.[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Relating to finance, money or the management of money.
  2. (Australia and New Zealand, informal) Having money.

Noun

  1. (plural) Shares in financial companies.

Word family

  • financially
  • nonfinancial
  • prefinancial

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Financial.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/financial. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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