usance

UK: /ˈjuːzəns/ US: (yo̅o̅′zəns)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

us•ance  (yo̅o̅′zəns), n. 

1. Business [Com.] a length of time, exclusive of days of grace and varying in different places, allowed by custom or usage for the payment of foreign bills of exchange.
2. Business [Econ.] the income of benefits of every kind derived from the ownership of wealth.
3. [Archaic.]
   • use.
   • custom;
     habit.
4. [Obs.] usury.

• Medieval Latin ūsantia, derivative of Latin ūsant- (stem of ūsāns), present participle of ūsāre to use; see -ance
• Old French usance, probably
• Middle English usaunce 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

usance / ˈjuːzəns/ noun

1. the period of time permitted by commercial usage for the redemption of foreign bills of exchange
2. an obsolete word for usage, usury, use

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, from Medieval Latin ūsantia, from ūsāre to use