greenback

noun

green·​back ˈgrēn-ˌbak How to pronounce greenback (audio)
Synonyms of greenbacknext
: a legal-tender note issued by the U.S. government

Examples of greenback in a Sentence

she threw a few greenbacks on the counter to pay for the drinks
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oil contracts are settled in dollars, so when the market is particularly active or volatile the demand for dollars goes up, strengthening the greenback against others. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026 Additionally, a weaker greenback also makes the assets cheaper for other countries, driving up demand. Sarah Min, CNBC, 29 Dec. 2025 If Florida State continues to lose games against those teams, greenbacks could start to flow in to help with the buyout. Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 That vault of greenbacks comes with a set of expectations from fans, your bosses and the boosters/collectives funneling the nation’s finest athletes into the factory. Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for greenback

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of greenback was in 1862

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Greenback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greenback. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

greenback

noun
green·​back ˈgrēn-ˌbak How to pronounce greenback (audio)
: a piece of U.S. paper money
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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