remittance

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A sum of money sent, especially by a worker to family in another country.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a remittance' or 'remittances' when talking about individual payments.

   Patterns

   • send a remittance
   • a remittance from someone
   • remittances to a country

   He sends a monthly remittance to his parents in the Philippines.

   The government relies heavily on remittances from citizens working abroad.

   She used the remittance to pay her brother's school fees.

2. 2noununcountableformal

   The act of sending money, especially to another country.

   Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the process in general: 'Remittance is expensive.'

   Patterns

   • the remittance of funds
   • a remittance service

   The bank charges a high fee for the remittance of funds to Africa.

   Remittance services have become faster with mobile apps.

Word forms

Common combinations

send a remittance

Many migrants send a remittance home every month.

remittance advice

Attach the remittance advice to your payment.

remittance flows

Remittance flows to developing countries reached a record high.

a remittance economy

The country has a remittance economy dependent on overseas workers.

Synonyms and how they differ

transfer

A more general word for moving money between accounts; 'remittance' is usually international and often by a worker abroad.

payment

Payment is any money paid for goods or services; a remittance is specifically money sent, often to family.

Word family

remit verb

To send money, especially as payment.

remitter noun

A person or company that sends a remittance.

Commonly confused: remittance or remission?

Practice

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