crowdfunding

noun
crowd·​fund·​ing | \ ˈkrau̇d-ˌfən-diŋ How to pronounce crowdfunding (audio) \

Definition of crowdfunding

: the practice of obtaining needed funding (as for a new business) by soliciting contributions from a large number of people especially from the online community

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Did You Know?

Crowdsourcing and crowdfunding are two words that have recently found their way into the crowded pool of English. Crowdsourcing, which typically refers to the practice of soliciting services, ideas, or content from a large group of people online, was coined by Jeff Howe in a 2006 article in Wired, and crowdfunding was created by entrepreneur Michael Sullivan in that same year. Both words conceptualize "the crowd" as a vast online community from which something needed may be obtained. In crowdsourcing, the crowd is called upon for needed assistance or information. A well-known use of crowdsourcing is Wikipedia, whose content is the result of various contributors. Crowdfunding, on the other hand, involves a more specific request: the crowd is solicited for financial contributions to a particular venture or cause, such as a film project or cancer research.

Examples of crowdfunding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today Gearbox and Homeworld Remastered/Deserts of Kharak developer Blackbird Interactive launched a crowdfunding campaign on Fig for Homeworld 3. Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "Gearbox finally announces a proper Homeworld sequel, 15 long years later," 30 Aug. 2019 In 2017, Anti-Archive launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to finance three short films by first-time female directors — including San, now 27. Los Angeles Times, "Young filmmakers train a fresh lens on turbulent Cambodia," 27 Aug. 2019 There is even a crowdfunding campaign for activists in Europe to sail to the United Nations climate conference in Chile later this year. Umair Irfan, Vox, "Air travel is a huge contributor to climate change. A new global movement wants you to be ashamed to fly.," 1 Aug. 2019 The nonprofits Celebrate Mercy and MPower Change created a crowdfunding campaign for the Tree of Life synagogue victims on LaunchGood, a Muslim crowdsourcing site. Justin Carissimo, CBS News, "Pittsburgh shooting suspect makes court appearance; feds seek death penalty," 29 Oct. 2018 At Kickstarter, the crowdfunding site, a unionization effort this year has floundered as organizers struggle to build support. New York Times, "Employee Activism Is Alive in Tech. It Stops Short of Organizing Unions.," 8 July 2019 Her local community and others around the world have raised more than $100,000 via the crowdfunding site GoFundMe to help with future treatment. Fox News, "Drunken driver leaves Disney intern paralyzed after car crash," 7 July 2019 Other crowdfunding campaigns established in recent weeks include one from the Hong Kong Journalists Association in support of press freedom, amid reports of police misconduct against journalists during the recent protests. Mary Hui, Quartz, "Hong Kong’s entrepreneurial protesters are crowdfunding everything from doctors to legal fees," 17 July 2019 That appearance helped boost a GoFundMe crowdfunding page that Van Dorn manages to beyond $32,000. Marco Santana, orlandosentinel.com, "Orlando Batman rescues dogs, cats around the South," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crowdfunding.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of crowdfunding

2006, in the meaning defined above

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