subprime
adjective
sub·prime
ˈsəb-ˌprīm 
1
: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended chiefly to a borrower who has a poor credit rating or is judged to be a potentially high risk for default (as due to low income)
subprime mortgages
a subprime loan
2
: extending or obtaining a subprime loan
subprime lenders
subprime borrowers
Examples of subprime in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Burry, who shot to fame by calling the subprime mortgage crisis, loaded up on bearish bets against Nvidia and Chinese internet stocks in the first quarter.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Join 20 others in the comments View Comments And while more than half of the newly delinquent borrowers already had subprime credit scores, 2.4 million others had scores above 620 and saw average negative score changes north of 140 points, New York Fed research showed.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
In 2007, the Global Financial Crisis started close to home, in U.S. subprime mortgage credit markets, reaching global pandemic scale in 2008.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
The areas hardest hit by Sandy had suffered during the subprime crisis – when some homeowners were charged exorbitant mortgage interest rates – and subsequent recession, and home prices had not yet started to rise again.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 20 May 2025
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Yun Li, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Join 20 others in the comments View Comments And while more than half of the newly delinquent borrowers already had subprime credit scores, 2.4 million others had scores above 620 and saw average negative score changes north of 140 points, New York Fed research showed.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
In 2007, the Global Financial Crisis started close to home, in U.S. subprime mortgage credit markets, reaching global pandemic scale in 2008.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
The areas hardest hit by Sandy had suffered during the subprime crisis – when some homeowners were charged exorbitant mortgage interest rates – and subsequent recession, and home prices had not yet started to rise again.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subprime
Cite this Entry
“Subprime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subprime. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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subprime
adjective
sub·prime
ˈsəb-ˌprīm
1
: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended especially to low-income borrowers
subprime mortgages
2
: extending or obtaining a subprime loan
subprime lenders
subprime borrowers
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