# wallet

/ˈwɔɫət/ (US) · /wˈɒlɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wallet
Updated: 2026-07-19

## Senses

### 1. for physical money

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. digital storage

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. personal wealth

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the amount of money a person has available to spend.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. storage folder

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I forgot my wallet on the kitchen table.
- He checked his back pocket to make sure his wallet was still there before leaving the train.
- While traditional leather wallets remain a staple of personal organization, many consumers are transitioning to digital alternatives that consolidate payment methods and loyalty programs into a single mobile interface.

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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.