hire-purchase在《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》的释义如下：

Hire purchase is a way of buying goods gradually. You make regular payments until you have paid the full price and the goods belong to you. The abbreviation HP is often used. 分期付款购买法 (HP)

简言之，买方首先支付一部分款项作为定金或首期付款，然后在约定的时间内分期付清余款。与此同时，买方可以立即使用该商品，但商品的所有权直到最后一期付款完成后才从卖方转移给买方。

hire-purchase相当于美国人“从租赁到拥有”（rent-to-own）的买卖安排。因为通常是签署一项hire purchase contract，买方先“租赁”，把分期的租赁费付清之后便拥有该财产。

在中文里，“hire-purchase”通常翻译为“分期付款购买”或“租购”。

如

The Company is principally engaged in the provision of consumer credit finance services, which include the issuance of credit cards and the provision of personal loan financing and hire purchase financing for vehicles and household and other consumer products.

本公司主要业务为提供消费信贷融资服务，包括签发信用卡及私人贷款融资及汽车、家庭用品及其他消费产品等租购融资。

A motor vehicle or equipment that is subject to a hire-purchase or leasing arrangement with a credit provider.

客户与信贷提供者协议的及仍有约束力的分期付款或租赁车辆或设备的安排的资料。