# money

/ˈməni/ (US) · /mˈʌni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/money
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. medium of exchange

noun · CEFR A1

the coins and paper notes you use to pay for goods and services.

For teachers: a generally accepted medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes.

- I need to go to the bank because I don't have enough money for the bus.
- The vendor refused to accept credit cards, insisting that all transactions be completed using physical money or local currency.

Usage: uncountable in this sense

### 2. wealth

noun · CEFR A2

the total amount of wealth or property that a person or family has.

For teachers: the total value of liquid assets and property owned by an individual or entity.

- Her family has a lot of money, so they travel to Europe every summer.
- Despite coming from a background of significant money, he chose to live a modest life and donate most of his inheritance to charity.

### 3. financial backing

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the people or organizations that provide the funding for a project.

For teachers: the source of capital or the person providing financial support for an operation.

- The movie was cancelled because the money pulled out at the last minute.
- The startup struggled to gain traction until the smart money began to show interest in their innovative software solution.

### 4. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang · Informal

very good, impressive, or exactly what was needed.

For teachers: denoting excellence, reliability, or high quality; often used when someone performs well under pressure.

- That last-minute goal was totally money.
- His performance during the final round of the tournament was absolutely money, securing the championship for the team.

Teaching tip: This is very informal and common in sports or competitive contexts; learners should use it sparingly in professional settings.

## Examples

- I need to save some money for my holiday.
- Most people prefer to pay with a credit card instead of carrying a lot of physical money in their pockets.
- Economists argue that the primary function of money is to act as a stable store of value, allowing individuals to defer consumption from the present into the future.

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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.