ɪnˈvɛstmənt the ceremonial act of clothing someone in the insignia of an office; the formal promotion of a person to an office or rank the act of putting on robes or vestments the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit outer layer or covering of an organ or part or organism the commitment of something other than money (time, energy, or effort) to a project with the expectation of some worthwhile result this job calls for the investment of some hard thinking he made an emotional investment in the work money that is invested with an expectation of profit