down payment

or down-pay·ment

SEE SYNONYMS FOR down payment ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an initial amount paid at the time of purchase, in installment buying, time sales, etc.
any initial or partial payment, gift, favor, or recompense, as to reduce one's indebtedness or express one's obligation or gratitude: This gift is just a down payment for all the favors I owe you.

Origin of down payment

First recorded in 1925–30

Words nearby down payment

down on, down on one's luck, down one's alley, down one's neck, down one's nose, down payment, down quark, down someone's throat, down syndrome, down the drain, down the hatch

Words related to down payment

deposit, binder, earnest, security

British Dictionary definitions for down payment

down payment

noun

the deposit paid on an item purchased on hire-purchase, mortgage, etc

Cultural definitions for down payment

down payment

A payment in part made at the time of purchase of a good, with the promise to make full payment later.