# franklin

/ˈfɹæŋkɫɪn/ (US) · /fɹˈæŋklɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/franklin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a hundred-dollar bill

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang · Informal

a slang name for a one-hundred-dollar bill in the United States because it has Benjamin Franklin's face on it.

For teachers: a one-hundred-dollar banknote in the United States. Informal register; derived from the portrait of Benjamin Franklin featured on the currency.

- He pulled a couple of franklins out of his wallet to pay for the expensive dinner.
- The dealer counted out five franklins and slid them across the table, completing the transaction in cash as requested.

Teaching tip: This is common in hip-hop lyrics and urban slang; learners should use it only in very casual settings.

### 2. historical landowner

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a person in the 14th or 15th century in England who owned land but was not a noble.

For teachers: a historical class of English landowner in the 14th and 15th centuries who held land freely but was not of noble birth.

- In the old story, the franklin was a wealthy man who loved to share his food with others.
- Chaucer’s Franklin is depicted as a prosperous landowner whose hospitality and obsession with culinary delights define his social standing.

Usage: Usually appears in historical or literary contexts, particularly when discussing Middle English literature.

Teaching tip: Most modern speakers only know this word through literature, such as Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales'.

## Examples

- He paid for the dinner with a single Franklin.
- The seller insisted on being paid in cash, so I had to withdraw several Franklins from the bank.

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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.