What is "interest rate swap"

n. A contract to exchange the benefit of one interest rate with another. Often a fixed interest rate being exchanged for a variable rate so as to allow one party to remove an exposure to a variable rate for which they pay a premium on the fixed rate in order to compensate for this 'insurance'. The two rates can also be based on different currencies.

An interest rate swap (IRS) is a liquid financial derivative instrument in which two parties agree to exchange interest rate cash flows, based on a specified notional amount from a fixed rate to a floating rate (or vice versa) or from one floating rate to another. Interest rate swaps can be used for both hedging and speculating.