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
Large investment firms such as Blackstone entered the single-family housing industry after the subprime mortgage crisis in 2007 .
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
The $155 million build (money set aside to cover potential future losses) on the auto unit was driven by a slightly higher subprime mix and a modestly lower outlook for vehicle values.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Especially vulnerable are the one-third of lower-income American adults with subprime or near-prime credit scores — especially younger workers, people rebuilding after a financial setback, or those who temporarily lose a job.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
ARMs may have gotten a bit of a bad rap during the subprime crisis, when mortgage lenders were offering – and borrowers gladly taking – all kinds of exotic loan products.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subprime
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Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
The $155 million build (money set aside to cover potential future losses) on the auto unit was driven by a slightly higher subprime mix and a modestly lower outlook for vehicle values.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Especially vulnerable are the one-third of lower-income American adults with subprime or near-prime credit scores — especially younger workers, people rebuilding after a financial setback, or those who temporarily lose a job.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
ARMs may have gotten a bit of a bad rap during the subprime crisis, when mortgage lenders were offering – and borrowers gladly taking – all kinds of exotic loan products.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subprime
Cite this Entry
“Subprime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subprime. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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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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