One who lends, especially money; specifically, a bank or other entity that specializes in granting loans.
"The local lender approved my mortgage application despite the fluctuating interest rates."
In plain English: A lender is someone who gives you money that you promise to pay back later, usually with extra interest as a fee for borrowing it.
"The bank acted as my lender when I took out a mortgage for our new house."
Usage: Use lender to refer to the person or institution providing funds rather than the borrower receiving them. This term is most commonly applied to banks and financial entities when discussing loan transactions.
A surname, from German.
"The historical records show that Lender was a common family name in Bavaria during the 19th century."
The word lender comes from Middle English, formed by adding the suffix "-er" to the verb "lend." It originally described a person who gives money or other items for use with the expectation that they will be returned.