Loan (Finance) – Amount of money borrowed from a lender, usually paid back in instalments with interest

To remember the meaning of the term Loan, use the following mnemonic:

Loan could stand for 'Life Of Agony Now' because not only has a person who borrows money got to pay back the loan, they also have to pay interest.

Note: While some loans have large interest rates, it's also worth pointing out that millions of private homes are bought with loans (called mortgages) and these are generally offered at reasonable rates of interest, although deposits (upfront payments of a percentage of the property's value) may be high.

Loans also enable businesses, and even countries, to invest and expand to increase their fortunes; without a loan, they would lack the financial muscle to increase their potential.