greenback

noun

green·​back ˈgrēn-ˌbak 

: a legal-tender note issued by the U.S. government

Synonyms of greenback

• bill
• dollar
• note
• currency

Examples of greenback in a Sentence

she threw a few greenbacks on the counter to pay for the drinks

Recent Examples on the Web

Countries buying oil did so in greenbacks. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026

Oil is priced in dollars but global investors, seeking safety amid economic turmoil, have bid up the price of the greenback. —Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026

In March, the dollar index — a gauge of the greenback's performance against a basket of major rivals — is on track to gain around 3%. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

As this sweeping history points out, however, the greenback is only the latest in a centuries-long series of global currencies, including the Dutch guilder and the British pound sterling, whose statures have risen and fallen with the fortunes of their issuers. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for greenback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

greenback

noun

green·​back ˈgrēn-ˌbak 

: a piece of U.S. paper money