Bonds: meaning, definitions and examples

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bonds

 

[ bɒndz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

finance

Bonds are fixed-income securities issued by governments, companies, or other entities to raise capital. They represent a loan from the investor to the issuer, who promises to pay back the principal amount plus interest over a specified period.

Synonyms

debentures, securities.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bonds

Typically used in the context of finance and investments. Bonds are debt instruments issued by corporations or governments that pay interest over time and return the principal at maturity.

  • Many investors buy bonds to diversify their portfolios and reduce risk.
  • The government issued bonds to raise funds for infrastructure projects.
securities

A broad term in finance that refers to tradable financial assets, which can include stocks, bonds, options, and others.

  • Investors often diversify their portfolios by including various types of securities.
  • The stock market is regulated to ensure fair trading of securities.
debentures

Used in finance to describe a type of bond or debt instrument that is not secured by physical assets or collateral. Debentures rely on the creditworthiness and reputation of the issuer.

  • The company raised capital by issuing debentures to institutional investors.
  • Unlike bonds, debentures do not have specific assets backing them up.

Examples of usage

  • Bonds are considered a safer investment compared to stocks.
  • Many retirees prefer to invest in bonds for a steady income stream.
Context #2 | Noun

chemistry

In chemistry, bonds refer to the attractive forces that hold atoms together in a molecule. These bonds can be covalent (sharing of electrons) or ionic (transfer of electrons).

Synonyms

connections, links.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bonds

Used to describe strong relationships or ties, often emotional or financial.

  • The bonds between family members are very strong.
  • They formed bonds of friendship that lasted a lifetime.
connections

Used to describe relationships or associations, often in a professional or technological context.

  • Her professional connections helped her get the job.
  • Maintaining good connections is essential in the tech industry.
links

Often used to describe associations between things, not necessarily strong or emotional, can be used in various contexts including technology and information.

  • The website provided several links to useful resources.
  • There are links between diet and health.

Examples of usage

  • The carbon-carbon bond in organic compounds is often very strong.
  • Ionic bonds form between metals and non-metals.

Translations

Translations of the word "bonds" in other languages:

🇵🇹 obrigações

🇮🇳 बॉन्ड

🇩🇪 Anleihen

🇮🇩 obligasi

🇺🇦 облігації

🇵🇱 obligacje

🇯🇵 債券

🇫🇷 obligations

🇪🇸 bonos

🇹🇷 tahviller

🇰🇷 채권

🇸🇦 سندات

🇨🇿 dluhopisy

🇸🇰 dlhopisy

🇨🇳 债券

🇸🇮 obveznice

🇮🇸 skuldir

🇰🇿 облигациялар

🇬🇪 ობლიგაციები

🇦🇿 istiqrazlar

🇲🇽 bonos

Etymology

The word 'bonds' has its origin in Middle English, derived from Old Norse 'böndi' meaning householder or husband. Over time, the term evolved to refer to various types of connections or bindings. In the financial context, bonds came to represent a financial instrument for borrowing and lending capital. In chemistry, the concept of bonds emerged to describe the interactions between atoms in molecules.

See also: bond, bondage, bonded, bondholder, bonding, bondmaid, bondman, bondservant, bondsmen, bondswoman, bondwoman.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,270, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.