wallet

noun

wal·​let ˈwä-lət 

1

: a bag for carrying miscellaneous articles while traveling

2

a

: a folding pocketbook with compartments for personal papers and usually unfolded paper money

also : billfold

b

: a container that resembles a money wallet: such as

(1)

: a usually flexible folding case fitted for carrying specific items (such as tools or fishing flies)

(2)

: folder sense 3a

3

: resources, funds

… a shopping mall that seems to swallow your wallet.

—Karen Wright

4

a

: an app or app feature for a mobile device or web browser that digitally stores a user's important information (such as credit cards, driver's license, or event tickets)

Digital wallets can store multiple payment methods, credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, and airline tickets on there.

—Rachel DePompa

b

: an application or device used to store and manage cryptocurrency

… hardware wallets and software wallets, that help to restrict access to your cryptocurrency and can be accessed using a password …

—USA Today

Synonyms of wallet

• suitcase

Examples of wallet in a Sentence

She paid the bill and tucked her wallet back into her pocket.

He pulled a few bills out of his wallet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Counter to the stereotype of the auctioneer as dry, monotone and more often than not male, Fenet learned about 10 years into her two-decade-plus career that harnessing her affable personality and sense of humor would encourage donors to open their wallets wider. —Scarlett Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026

Or who’ll be the next governor, and how will that political change hit my wallet? —Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026

Sending money overseas can be tough on your wallet, on top of regular expenses like rent, utilities, insurance and food. —Malana Vantyler, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026

Serving more than 94 million users, MercadoLibre drives the shift from offline to digital commerce and finance, with its fintech segment now accounting for a growing share of revenue through payments processing, credit offerings and digital wallets. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English walet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wallet

• vote with your wallet

Rhymes for wallet

• collet
• gallate
• hippolyte

Kids Definition

wallet

noun

wal·​let ˈwäl-ət 

1

: a bag or sack for carrying things on a journey

2

: a small flat folding pocketbook with compartments (as for coins, paper money, and cards)

also : billfold