money
n. · adj.-
1 medium of exchange (n.) A1 Beginnerthe coins and paper notes you use to pay for goods and services.
a generally accepted medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.
ExampleI need to go to the bank because I don't have enough money for the bus.
ExampleThe vendor refused to accept credit cards, insisting that all transactions be completed using physical money or local currency.
Usageuncountable in this sense
PitfallI have many moneys in my wallet.I have a lot of money in my wallet.In everyday English, 'money' is uncountable and does not take a plural form when referring to cash.
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2 wealth (n.) A2 Elementarythe total amount of wealth or property that a person or family has.
the total value of liquid assets and property owned by an individual or entity.
ExampleHer family has a lot of money, so they travel to Europe every summer.
ExampleDespite coming from a background of significant money, he chose to live a modest life and donate most of his inheritance to charity.
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3 financial backing (n.) C1 Advanced Informalthe people or organizations that provide the funding for a project.
the source of capital or the person providing financial support for an operation.
ExampleThe movie was cancelled because the money pulled out at the last minute.
ExampleThe startup struggled to gain traction until the smart money began to show interest in their innovative software solution.
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4 excellent (adj.) C1 Advanced American English Slang Informalvery good, impressive, or exactly what was needed.
denoting excellence, reliability, or high quality; often used when someone performs well under pressure.
ExampleThat last-minute goal was totally money.
ExampleHis performance during the final round of the tournament was absolutely money, securing the championship for the team.
Teacher's tipThis is very informal and common in sports or competitive contexts; learners should use it sparingly in professional settings.
Etymology tree Latin Monēta Latin monēta Old French moneie Old French monoie Anglo-Norman muneiebor. Middle English moneye English money From Middle English moneye, moneie, money, borrowed from Anglo-Norman muneie (“money”), from Latin monēta (“money, a place for coining money, coin, mint”), from the name of the temple of Juno Moneta in Rome, where a mint was. In this sense, displaced native Old English feoh, whence English fee. Doublet of mint, ultimately from the same Latin word but through Germanic and Old English, and of manat, through Russian and Azeri or Turkmen.