# banknote

/ˈbæŋkˌnoʊt/ (US) · /bˈænknəʊt/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/banknote
Updated: 2026-08-23

## Definition

a piece of paper money issued by a bank or government. You use it to pay for things instead of coins.

For teachers: a promissory note issued by a central bank or authorised financial institution, serving as legal tender in paper form.

## Examples

- She paid with a fifty-pound banknote.
- The cashier held the banknote up to the light to check it was genuine.
- In an era of contactless payments, the sight of a crisp banknote changing hands has become increasingly rare in urban economies.

## Usage notes

- Takes 'a' or a numeral before it; plural form is 'banknotes'.

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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.