What type of investment is characterized by loaning money to a government or corporation?

Bonds are a type of investment where an individual loans money to a government or corporation in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the bond's face value when it matures. When investors buy bonds, they are essentially lending money; the entity that issues the bond agrees to pay back the borrowed amount on a specified date, while also compensating the investor with interest typically at a fixed rate.

This structure offers predictable income and is often considered a safer investment compared to stocks, as it generally carries less risk. On the other hand, stocks represent ownership in a company, real estate involves purchasing physical property, and mutual funds pool money from various investors to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Each of these alternatives has different risk profiles and characteristics, but bonds specifically embody the concept of loaning money, making them a distinct type of investment.