# banker's dozen

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bankers-dozen
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Eleven.

## Examples

- I ordered a baker's dozen of donuts for the office.
- The local shop always gives you a baker's dozen when you buy a full set of rolls.
- Although the recipe strictly required twelve, the baker provided a baker's dozen to ensure the customer had enough for the large party.

## Origin

The phrase is a play on the established baker's dozen, substituting the custom of receiving thirteen for the price of twelve with its opposite. Whereas the baker provides one more than a dozen, the banker provides one less. It functions as a cynical numerical inversion, related in spirit to the concept of bankers' hours.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.