lucre

noun

lu·​cre ˈlü-kər 

: monetary gain : profit

wrote almost entirely for lucre

also : money

Synonyms

• bread [slang]
• bucks
• cabbage [slang]
• cash
• change
• chips
• coin
• currency
• dough
• gold
• green
• jack [slang]
• kale [slang]
• legal tender
• lolly [British]
• long green [slang]
• loot
• money
• moola [slang]
• moolah
• needful
• pelf
• scratch [slang]
• shekels
• sheqels
• shekelim
• shekalim
• sheqalim
• tender
• wampum

Examples of lucre in a Sentence

foreign coins are not acceptable lucre in most vending machines in this country

Recent Examples on the Web

At investment banks, such lucre may not be quite as abundant as when formal training programs were set up as a gateway into private partnerships. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 June 2024

As professional leagues in many sports started popping up around the world in the 20th century, the Olympics drew a hard line, disqualifying any athletes who were tainted by accepting filthy lucre. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Medieval Money celebrates the lucre that made the Morgan Library possible. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024

Morton earned his lucre as an enforcer in the drug trade, committing a murder here and there. —Sarah Weinman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin lucrum; probably akin to Old English lēan reward, Old High German lōn, Greek apolauein to enjoy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lucre

noun

lu·​cre ˈlü-kər 

: gain in money : profit

also : money sense 1a