paper money

noun

1
: money consisting of government notes and banknotes
2

Examples of paper money in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Can OpenAI remain a going concern without Microsoft? OpenAI commands a soaring valuation thanks to its tender offers with venture capital firms, but this is just paper money based on share sales from existing employees, founders, and earlier investors. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2023 Served alongside it is a side of collard greens and freshly baked cornbread; the greens are a symbol of paper money, while the cornbread represents gold. Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023 In his Autobiography, Franklin mentions the success of his essay promoting the use of paper money. IEEE Spectrum, 29 July 2023 Laymen were understandably skeptical at first, because paper money was unfamiliar—the cryptocurrency of its time. IEEE Spectrum, 29 July 2023 And the Chinese have a history of burning paper money and precious objects for the dead to take to the afterlife. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 8 June 2023 The potential launch of a CBDC is much bigger than politics, and a CBDC is not simply the digital version of paper money. Norbert Michel, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023 One of the benefits of a digital currency would be as a backup to card payments if cash payments continue to drop in the years to come — by the end of this decade, only one in 10 payments in the U.K. are expected to be made with traditional paper money. Pan Pylas, Star Tribune, 19 Apr. 2021 Walmart, Kroger impacted by nationwide shortage of coin change sparked by COVID-19 pandemic Thirty-two percent, or nearly one-third, of consumers want to see paper money and coins phased out, 45 percent want to do away with pennies, and another 30.5 percent wants all coins to disappear. Shacamree Gowdy, Houston Chronicle, 13 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paper money.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper money was in 1691

Dictionary Entries Near paper money

Cite this Entry

“Paper money.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20money. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

paper money

noun
: money consisting of government notes and bank notes

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