prime rate

noun

: an interest rate formally announced by a bank to be the lowest available at a particular time to its most credit-worthy customers

called also prime interest rate

Examples of prime rate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The central bank cut the 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates by 10 basis points each in July, after keeping the 1-year unchanged for 10 straight months, and the 5-year unchanged for four months. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2024 The Federal Reserve's benchmark rate doesn't translate directly into movements in credit card annual percentage rates, or APRs, but because card rates are tied to the prime rate used by banks, which closely follows the Fed's federal funds rate, there is an indirect correlation. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2024 But its rate is the basis for your bank’s prime rate. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 Private student loans tend to have a variable rate tied to the prime rate, Treasury bill or another rate index, which means those borrowers are already paying more in interest. Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 31 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for prime rate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prime rate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prime rate was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near prime rate

Cite this Entry

“Prime rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime%20rate. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.

Legal Definition

prime rate

noun
: an interest rate formally announced by a bank to be the lowest available at a particular time to its most creditworthy customers

called also prime, prime interest rate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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