subprime

Meanings

Adjective

• Less than prime; inferior.
• Designating a loan (typically at a greater than usual rate of interest) offered to a borrower who is not qualified for other loans (for example, because of a poor credit history).
• Designating a type of commercial lending rate, less than the prime rate, offered to desirable borrowers.

Noun

• A subprime loan.

Origin

• sub- + prime