1
: relating to, occurring in, or required at the beginning of an undertaking or business transaction
no front-end charge at the time of investment
He pays close attention to financial matters and can speak the language of "front-end money," "back-end money" and the rest of it.—
Erik Hedegaard
compare back-end sense 1
Erik Hedegaard2
computing
: visible to the user of a device or service
a front-end application/interface
compare back-end sense 2
plural front ends
1
: the front part or section of something
Soon the front end of the ship began to go down and down, faster and faster—till the boat looked almost as though it were standing on its head.—Hugh Lofting
Hugh Lofting2
computing
a
: a unit in a computer system devoted to controlling the data communications link between terminals and the main computer and often to the preliminary processing of data
b
: a software interface (such as a graphical user interface) designed to enable user-friendly interaction with a computer
… you'll want to use this well-designed, easy-to-use front end for Windows' obscure command-line tools.—Edward Mendelson
compare back end sense 3
Edward Mendelson3
: the initial part or period of a business arrangement or financial undertaking
Once a record company has sunk a lot of money on the front end of a project, with big-name producers and an expensive video, she says, "They're afraid of spending money on anything else."—Mimi Valdés
Mimi ValdésIn sum, the initiative aims to force … residents to pay more of their own fire protection expenses, and to pay those expenses on the front end.—David Sirota
compare back end sense 2
David SirotaExamples of front-end in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebChristina Cheddar Berk,alex Harring, CNBC, 12 July 2024
But with Martin declining his player option, that type of extension with a front-end cap hit of $7.1 million for this upcoming season is no longer possible.
—Barry Jackson and, Miami Herald, 3 July 2024
Lena Miano, arkansasonline.com, 14 July 2024
The biggest difference is a revised front end, which includes a three-dimensional honeycomb-style grille with a more prominent bezel, along with some model-specific matte grey accents.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for front-end 
Adjective
Compared against competitor CarMax, Fong said Carvana has stronger front-end margins and more than two times the EBITDA per unit.
—Christina Cheddar Berk,alex Harring, CNBC, 12 July 2024
But with Martin declining his player option, that type of extension with a front-end cap hit of $7.1 million for this upcoming season is no longer possible.
—Barry Jackson and, Miami Herald, 3 July 2024
Noun
The fence post collided with the front end of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip and land on its roof, the report said.
—Lena Miano, arkansasonline.com, 14 July 2024
The biggest difference is a revised front end, which includes a three-dimensional honeycomb-style grille with a more prominent bezel, along with some model-specific matte grey accents.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for front-end
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front-end.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near front-end
Cite this Entry
“Front-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-end. Accessed 20 Jul. 2024.
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