avançament

Avançament is a noun used in Catalan to denote both progress or advancement and, in financial contexts, an advance payment. It is derived from the verb avançar, meaning to move forward or to advance, and the suffix -ment, which forms nouns. In general use, avançament refers to the act of moving forward, the development of a project, or improvements over time.

In business and contracting, the term can indicate money paid ahead of time to secure goods, services, or capacity. This financial sense is common in agreements where an upfront payment facilitates or guarantees delivery or work in a later phase. The term may appear in formal or administrative language, such as budgeting, procurement, or project planning documents.

The Catalan term has cognates in related Romance languages. In Portuguese, a closely related form is avançamento or avançamento (avançamento), with a similar core meaning of progress and, in some contexts, advance payment. Spelling and usage differ by language, but the underlying concept—forward movement or early payment—remains shared.

Usage notes: Avançament is more typical in formal, written registers and official documents. In everyday speech, speakers might use alternative expressions to convey progress or prepaid amounts, depending on the context. See also avançar (to advance) and the Portuguese cognate avançamento/avançamento for cross-language references.