funding

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Money that a government, organization or donor supplies so that a project, school or person can do their work.

   Grammar: Has no plural and no a: say more funding, not a funding.

   Patterns

   • funding for something
   • funding from someone
   • funding to do something

   The museum lost its funding and had to close two galleries.

   She applied for funding to study marine biology.

   Public funding for libraries has risen this year.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act of supplying money for something, or the way the money is raised.

   Grammar: Often appears with of: the funding of a new bridge.

   Patterns

   • the funding of something

   The funding of the stadium was split between the city and private investors.

   Critics questioned the funding of the campaign.

Common combinations

secure funding

The charity managed to secure funding for the next three years.

cut funding

The council voted to cut funding for after-school clubs.

public funding

Public funding covers most of the hospital's costs.

funding for research

There is growing funding for cancer research.

a source of funding

Ticket sales were their main source of funding.

Synonyms and how they differ

financing

Financing often means borrowed money for a purchase or business, while funding is money given or allocated to support an activity.

backing

Backing can include moral or political support, whereas funding is strictly money.

grant

A grant is one specific award of money, but funding is the general term for money supplied.

subsidy

A subsidy is usually money from the government to lower prices or costs, whereas funding has a wider range.

Word family

fund verb

to supply money for something

fund noun

a sum of money set aside for a purpose

funder noun

a person or body that provides money

underfunded adjective

not given enough money

refund noun

money paid back to someone

Commonly confused: funding or fundraising?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “funding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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