: a division or portion of a pool or whole
specifically : an issue of bonds derived from a pooling of like obligations (such as securitized mortgage debt) that is differentiated from other issues especially by maturity or rate of return

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Finance and Tranche

In French, tranche means “slice.” Cutting deeper into the word’s etymology, we find the Old French word trenchier, meaning “to cut,” which has its likely origin in a Latin word meaning “to cut in three,” from Latin trini meaning “three each.” Tranche emerged in the English language in the late 19th century to refer to a division or portion of a larger pool or whole, and later developed a finance-specific meaning referring to an offering for sale of typically a set of bonds “cut” from a larger group of bonds, the tranche being differentiated by such factors as maturity or rate of return.

Examples of tranche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep the jobs, and more specifically, my next tranche of work is bringing filming back to Los Angeles. Antonio Ferme, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 The bill has not yet become law, and its potential impact has been partly mooted by the White House going ahead and releasing the four tranches of documents on its own. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 The first tranche of insider lock-ups is set to expire on Thursday, allowing early investors to sell a portion of their shares and posing a major test for the company following its IPO in June. Sean Conlon,joseph Wilkins,justina Lee,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 Portions of employee holdings become eligible after second-quarter earnings, additional tranches follow throughout the fall, the principal lockup expires in December, while other holdings, including Elon Musk’s, remain restricted until June 2027. Anastasia Atamanchuk, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tranche

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, slice, from Old French, from trenchier, trancher to cut — more at trench

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tranche was in 1893

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Cite this Entry

“Tranche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tranche. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Legal Definition

: a division or portion of a pool or whole: as
a
: an issue of bonds derived from a pooling of like obligations that is differentiated from other issues especially by maturity or rate of return
b
: a bond series issued for sale in a foreign country
Etymology

French, literally, slice, from Old French, from trenchier, trancher to cut

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