pelf

noun

ˈpelf How to pronounce pelf (audio)
Definition of pelfnext
as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment a politician who seems more interested in pelf than in policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pelf Thomasine and Bushrod join up (as sheriffs relate) and share their pelf with Mexicans, Native Americans, other Black people, and poor white people. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pelf
  1. money
  2. cash
  3. coin
  4. currency
  5. bucks
Noun
  • Villa’s desire to address this position has grown in prominence over the summer, with Jadon Sancho’s loan ending, Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey available to leave and Villa having the money to spend from Rogers’ sale.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Georgia voters should look twice before donating money to candidates this election season.
    — Sophia Eppley, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of money
Noun
  • Police located a third gun and an undisclosed amount of cash inside of a bag in a closet, BPD said.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 July 2026
  • Conforti, an energy consultant making her third run for Congress, had less than $23,000 in campaign cash as of June 30.
    — Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of cash
Noun
  • The Thames holds innumerable coins, dress pins, and nails from the pre-industrial era.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • Heritage pointed to an ever-broadening universe of collectors entering through everything from Pokémon cards and vintage video games to sports memorabilia and coins.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of coin
Noun
  • These organelles make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of life, through a cascade of chemical reactions that breaks down glucose and fat from food.
    — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026
  • Thanks to dynamic ticket pricing and soaring fuel and transportation costs, as well as the rising currency for sports tickets-as-prestige-items, the people’s game currently belongs to the 1 percent.
    — Michelle Tchea, Robb Report, 17 July 2026
Definition of currency
Noun
  • Our price target is a bit higher at $265 — a couple of bucks shy of last Tuesday's highs.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • Million Dollar Trifle is a decadent layered dessert that looks and tastes like a million bucks, yet is extremely simple to make.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of bucks

Browse Nearby Words

pelerines
pelf
pelisse
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Pelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pelf. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All