# Simon

/ˈsaɪmən/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a male given name derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on.

- Simon is starting his new job at the bank next Monday.
- The biblical Simon, later known as Peter, is a central figure in the New Testament narratives.

### 2. sixpence coin

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic · Slang

an old British coin worth six pence.

For teachers: a historical British sixpence coin. The term is typically encountered in nineteenth-century literature.

- The old man found a dusty simon at the bottom of his coat pocket.
- In the Victorian era, a simon was a common slang term for a sixpence among the working classes of London.

Usage: Usually written with a lowercase 's' when referring to the coin.

### 3. one dollar

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Archaic · Slang

an old word for a one-dollar bill.

For teachers: a historical American slang term for a US dollar.

- He didn't have a single simon left to buy a loaf of bread.
- The character in the period novel complained that he hadn't earned a simon for his week of hard labour.

Usage: Usually written with a lowercase 's' when referring to the currency.

## Examples

- Don't be such a Simon; you can decide for yourself.
- The manager wanted a team of creative thinkers, not a group of Simons who just waited for his next command.
- In a corporate culture that prioritises rigid hierarchy over innovation, employees often transform into Simons, executing every directive without questioning its underlying logic or potential for failure.

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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.