Leverage refers to the use of a small amount of force or resources to gain an advantage, often in terms of increased efficiency, productivity, or influence. In business and finance, it is commonly used to describe how one can obtain greater results by using less of their own money or effort through borrowed funds or partnerships. For example, if a company takes out a loan to purchase new equipment, they are leveraging the value of that equipment to generate more revenue than what was invested in purchasing it. In personal finance, leverage can also refer to using debt to increase one's potential return on investment, such as through buying stocks with borrowed money or taking out a mortgage to purchase property.