# nickel

/ˈnɪkəɫ/ (US) · /nˈɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nickel
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the metal

noun · CEFR B2

a hard, silver-white metal often used to make coins or to coat other metals.

For teachers: a silvery-white, lustrous metallic element (atomic number 28) used primarily in alloys and electroplating.

- The door handle is made of steel with a thin coating of nickel.
- The geologist identified a high concentration of nickel in the ore samples, suggesting the site might be viable for commercial mining.

### 2. a 5-cent coin

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a coin used in the United States and Canada that is worth five cents.

For teachers: a five-cent coin in the United States and Canada, typically composed of a copper-nickel alloy.

- I found a nickel and three pennies at the bottom of my bag.
- The child carefully counted out four nickels to pay for the candy, proud to use his own pocket money for the purchase.

### 3. five of something

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

a slang word for five, such as a five-year prison sentence or five dollars.

For teachers: a slang term representing the number five, commonly applied to currency amounts or durations of time.

- He just finished serving a nickel for his role in the robbery.
- In certain street dialects, asking for a nickel might refer to five dollars or even five hundred, depending entirely on the immediate social context.

### 4. to coat with metal

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to cover a metal object with a thin layer of nickel.

For teachers: to plate or coat a surface with nickel, usually through an electrolytic process.

- The factory nickels the car parts to prevent them from rusting.
- The restoration expert decided to nickel the original brass fittings to match the aesthetic of the early twentieth-century interior.

### 5. cheap

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

describing something that is very cheap or of low quality.

For teachers: denoting something of little value or low cost; often used in the compound 'nickel-and-dime'.

- I don't want to buy some nickel watch that breaks in a week.
- The critic dismissed the production as a nickel opera, citing the poor set design and lack of rehearsal time.

## Examples

- I found a nickel on the sidewalk today.
- The cashier gave me two dimes and a nickel back as change for my purchase.
- Industrial manufacturers often plate steel with nickel to provide a protective layer that resists corrosion and improves the overall durability of the component.

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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.