# fives

/ˈfaɪvz/ (US) · /fˈaɪvz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fives
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a slang term for five-pound notes or five-dollar bills. You use this when talking casually about small amounts of cash.

For teachers: plural slang term for banknotes with a denomination of five, such as five-pound or five-dollar bills.

## Examples

- He paid the bill with two fives.
- The shopkeeper asked if I had any fives because he was running low on small change in the till.
- While digital payments are now the norm, he still prefers to keep a few fives in his wallet for tipping or small cash-only transactions at the local market.

## Usage notes

- Plural form used to refer to multiple banknotes of that specific value.

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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.