English Reference

Word

bullion

Phoneticsbul·lion

US/ˈbʊɫjən/

UK/bˈʊliən/

Definition

n. gold or silver that is kept in the form of bars or blocks instead of coins. It is usually held by banks or governments as a way to store wealth.

n. gold or silver in bulk form, such as bars or ingots, valued by weight rather than by face value or artistic merit. Often held as a reserve asset by central banks or institutional investors.

Examples

“The bank stores gold bullion in a high-security vault.”

“Investors often purchase silver bullion as a hedge against inflation when the stock market becomes volatile.”

“The central bank's decision to increase its holdings of gold bullion signaled a lack of confidence in the long-term stability of the global reserve currency.”

Examples

simple

“The bank stores gold bullion in a high-security vault.”

contextual

“Investors often purchase silver bullion as a hedge against inflation when the stock market becomes volatile.”

complex

“The central bank's decision to increase its holdings of gold bullion signaled a lack of confidence in the long-term stability of the global reserve currency.”

Real-World Examples

“Gold bullion can be seen after being removed from casts at the ABC Refinery smelter in Sydney, Australia.”
Toronto Sun · 23 Aug 2026
“The trove included gold coins, nuggets and numbered bullion bars.”
The Guardian · 14 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/bullion

English Reference