Skip to main content
zero-coupon bond

zero-coupon bond

7.1
A loan you buy for less than its value that pays no interest until it ends
  • noun
  • /ˈziːroʊ ˈkuːpən bɑnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bono cero cupón
  • Investing in a zero-coupon bond can be a smart strategy.

Examples

  • The company issued a zero-coupon bond that will mature in ten years.

  • Many investors prefer a zero-coupon bond for long-term savings goals, such as college tuition.

  • A zero-coupon bond, unlike a traditional bond, does not provide periodic interest payments.

  • Many investors prefer zero-coupon bonds for long-term savings.

  • Investors purchase a zero-coupon bond at a significant discount, receiving the full face value when it matures.

  • She decided to invest in a zero-coupon bond instead of a traditional bond because it does not pay interest until maturity.

  • Financial advisors often recommend zero-coupon bonds for long-term savings goals due to their predictable payout at maturity.

Synonyms

bond
vszero-coupon bond
  • Specialized
564 4.4

A certificate promising to repay borrowed money with interest

is issued at a deep discount and pays no periodic interest instead
zero-coupon security
vszero-coupon bond
  • Specialized
9.0

A bond sold for less than its value that pays no interest and gives the full amount when it ends

is the same meaning but refers specifically to a debt issued in single payment form
zero coupon security
vszero-coupon bond
  • Specialized
7.8

A bond sold at a large discount that pays no regular interest and repays full value at maturity

is identical in meaning but names the specific issued debt rather than the broader category

Antonyms

coupon bond
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A bond where you give paper coupons to get interest payments

Surface Forms

Morphology

zero-coupon + bond

The phrase literally combines 'zero' (none) + 'coupon' (periodic interest payment in finance) + 'bond' (debt instrument), so the intended meaning — a bond that pays no periodic interest — is compositionally derivable if the learner knows the financial sense of 'coupon'. However, that specialist meaning of 'coupon' is not guaranteed for an average B1 learner, making the relation only partially predictable without domain knowledge.

Etymology

Zero-coupon bond comes from old paper bonds where a coupon was a small slip you clipped to get interest and zero shows there are none. Because there are no coupons the bond pays 'no regular interest' and is sold for less now with the full amount paid back later, so the name helps you remember how it works.