# Hamilton

/ˈhæməɫtən/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a person or place

noun · CEFR B1

a common surname or the name of many cities, such as in Canada, New Zealand, or the US.

For teachers: a proper noun designating a widespread surname of Scottish origin or any of numerous global municipalities.

- We spent the weekend visiting friends who live in Hamilton, Ontario.
- The researcher tracked the migration patterns of the Hamilton clan from South Lanarkshire to various colonial outposts in the eighteenth century.

### 2. Alexander Hamilton

noun · CEFR B2

a famous American leader from the 1700s who is the subject of a very popular stage musical.

For teachers: refers to Alexander Hamilton, an American founding father, or the eponymous 2015 hip-hop musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

- It is almost impossible to get cheap tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway.
- The cultural impact of Hamilton has renewed public interest in the Federalist Papers and early American fiscal policy.

### 3. ten-dollar bill

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang · Informal

a slang term for a ten-dollar bill in the United States, because Alexander Hamilton's face is on it.

For teachers: a slang term for a United States ten-dollar banknote, derived from the portrait of Alexander Hamilton featured on the obverse.

- The sandwich cost eight dollars, so I paid with a hamilton and got two dollars back.
- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a crisp hamilton to cover his share of the taxi fare.

Usage: Usually used in the singular to refer to the bill itself.

Teaching tip: This is specific to US currency; learners should be aware it is informal and might not be understood outside the United States.

## Examples

- The sandwich and coffee cost me a Hamilton.
- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a Hamilton to pay for the taxi ride.
- While larger denominations are often preferred for significant transactions, a single Hamilton remains the standard currency for a quick lunch in many American cities.

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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.