purse strings

plural noun

: financial resources
also : control over these resources

Examples of purse strings in a Sentence

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.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and the European Union, once aid superpowers, are tightening their purse strings, and wealthy Arab states, which have been meddling on both sides of the civil war, aren’t footing the bill. Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2025 Some analysts say consumers, tightening their purse strings because of inflation and tariffs, have been cutting back spending on smartphones. Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025 When traditional banks deny loan applications or tighten their purse strings, private credit can provide the reliability and flexibility that owners need to move commercial projects forward. Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 This is a first as state’s attorney, with a former political opponent — Preckwinkle — largely in control of the purse strings. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purse strings

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purse strings was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Purse strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purse%20strings. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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