ways and means

plural noun

1

: methods and resources for accomplishing something and especially for defraying expenses

2

often Ways and Means

a

: methods and resources for raising the necessary revenues for the expenses of a nation or state

b

: a legislative committee concerned with this function

Examples of ways and means in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fortunately, astronomers have their ways and means of bypassing the Zone of Avoidance, and now, Kraan-Korteweg and her team have done just that to discover the true scale of the vast Vela Supercluster. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 May 2026

Not really — especially when Timberlake had the ways and means not to be driving under the influence. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026

The bill passed the House ways and means committee Jan. 22 by a 15-9 vote and now awaits consideration by the full House. —Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 2 Feb. 2026

Pension funds have to work on ways and means to invest through venture capital funds without undue risk. —Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ways and means

• argentines
• asphaltenes
• chemokines
• contravenes
• diamines
• evergreens
• figurines
• florentines
• fullerenes
• gasolines
• ghibellines
• intervenes

Legal Definition

ways and means

noun plural

1

: methods and resources for raising the necessary revenues for the expenses of a nation or state

2

often capitalized W&M : a legislative committee with jurisdiction over ways and means