Glossary
Every financial term you’ll encounter on an earnings call, in a 10-K, or on a Bloomberg terminal — defined in plain English.
Financial Glossary
Clear, practical definitions for every financial term — from basic concepts to advanced metrics. Each entry includes formulas, examples, and links to related guides.
Most Looked Up
What This Glossary Covers
Finance has its own language — and the terminology can be a barrier whether you’re reading your first 10-K or building a DCF model. This glossary exists to remove that barrier.
Every definition is written the way an analyst would explain it to a colleague: short, direct, and focused on what the term means in practice. Where relevant, you’ll find the formula, a worked example, and links to the deeper investing guides and cheat sheets that go further.
The glossary covers equities, fixed income, derivatives, financial ratios, accounting standards, macroeconomics, personal finance, corporate finance, banking, regulation, and more.
All Terms A–Z
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E
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Full A–Z continues — H through Z follow the same structure.
Go Deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
What financial terms should every investor know?
Start with the core building blocks: P/E ratio, EPS, market cap, dividend yield, and balance sheet. From there, expand into valuation metrics like enterprise value and free cash flow, and risk measures like beta and Sharpe ratio.
What’s the difference between EBIT and EBITDA?
How is this glossary different from a dictionary?
A dictionary gives you a one-line definition. This glossary gives you context — the formula, a worked example, why the term matters, and links to the related guides and cheat sheets that go deeper. It’s built for people who need to actually use these concepts, not just memorize them.
Do I need a finance background to use this glossary?
No. Every term is written in plain English first, then goes into the technical detail. Whether you’re a self-directed investor or a finance student, the definitions are structured to meet you at your level — basics first, then depth.