English Reference

Word

wallet

Phoneticswal·let, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈwɔɫət/

UK/wˈɒlɪt/

Definitions

01for physical money

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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

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

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

“The leather wallet was worn thin from years of use, yet it still securely held his essential cards and a few folded banknotes.”

Synonyms

pursebillfold

02digital storage

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing

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

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

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

“To complete the transaction, the user must authorise the transfer of funds from their hardware wallet to the exchange address.”

Synonyms

e-wallet

03personal wealth

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Finance Informal

n. the amount of money a person has available to spend.

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

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

“Economists argue that the new tax policy will provide immediate relief to the average consumer's wallet by increasing disposable income.”

04storage folder

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

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

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

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

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

Synonyms

Etymology

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.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Domains

ComputingFinance

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · Elementary
Updated

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English Reference