What is the term for a fee paid for the use of borrowed money?

The term for a fee paid for the use of borrowed money is interest. Interest represents the cost of borrowing and is typically expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. When an individual or business takes out a loan, they agree to pay back the principal amount along with the interest, which compensates the lender for the risk and opportunity cost associated with lending money.

Understanding interest is crucial in finance, as it affects everything from personal loans and mortgages to corporate borrowing and investments. The other choices do not specifically relate to the concept of borrowing money. While a fee can refer to various charges for services, and a rate typically denotes a percentage used in various contexts, neither directly captures the notion of compensation for borrowed funds as accurately as interest does. Charge can also imply a fee but is more general and does not specifically reference money borrowed.