ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wallet

n.
US //ˈwɔɫət// UK //wˈɒlɪt// wal·let
  1. 1 for physical money (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a small, flat case used for carrying paper money, credit cards, and your ID.

    a small, portable case, typically made of leather or fabric, designed to hold banknotes, credit cards, and identification documents.

    Example

    He checked his back pocket to make sure his wallet was still there.

    Example

    The leather wallet was worn thin from years of use, yet it still securely held his essential cards and a few folded banknotes.
  2. 2 digital storage (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    an app or software that stores your digital money, tickets, or credit card details.

    a digital application or service that stores payment information, cryptocurrencies, or electronic versions of tickets and identification.

    Example

    I have my boarding pass saved in my phone's digital wallet.

    Example

    To complete the transaction, the user must authorise the transfer of funds from their hardware wallet to the exchange address.
    • e wallet
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  1. 3 personal wealth (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Finance

    the amount of money a person has available to spend.

    a person's financial resources or purchasing power. Often used in a figurative sense regarding economic impact.

    Example

    The high price of petrol is really hitting people in the wallet.

    Example

    Economists argue that the new tax policy will provide immediate relief to the average consumer's wallet by increasing disposable income.
  2. 4 storage folder (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a folder with plastic pockets used to hold things like CDs or documents.

    a protective case or folder, often containing multiple transparent sleeves, used for organising items such as discs or certificates.

    Example

    He kept his entire collection of old computer games in a large plastic wallet.

    Example

    The archivist carefully placed the original certificates into a protective plastic wallet to prevent further degradation from handling.
Origin

From Middle English walet (“a bag, knapsack”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from an assumed Old Northern French walet (“a roll; bag; a knapsack”), from Proto-Germanic wal- (“to roll”). More at walk, well, wallow.

Idioms1 entry

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