I believe there is some confusion over the use of the word ‘crowdfunding’ creating misuse.
Let’s look at the two parts of the word crowdfunding:
- Funding – funds are generally considered to be money and funding is the receipt of money.
I believe that is clear and used correctly but it is the first part of the word that I think is causing the word to be misused.
2. Crowd – a noun and means, according to the online Oxford dictionary
- a large number of people gathered together in a disorganized or unruly way:a huge crowd gathered in the street outside
- an audience, especially one at a sporting event:they played before a 25,000 crowd[as modifier]:a match marred by crowd trouble
- informal, often derogatory a group of people who are linked by a common interest or activity:I’ve broken away from that whole junkie crowd
- (the crowd) the mass or multitude of ordinary people:make yourself stand out from the crowdfree-thinkers who don’t follow the crowdhe’d become just another face in the crowd
- a large number of things regarded collectively:the crowd of tall buildings
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