wampum

noun

ˈwäm-pəm How to pronounce wampum (audio)
Definition of wampumnext
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 made some real wampum on that last business deal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 wampum Today, Mohegan Tribal Elder, Beth Regan presented Alissa Pili gifts from the Mohegan Tribe including a wampum necklace to honor her journey into the @WNBA as and Indigenous woman. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2024 Entering the New-York Historical Society from Central Park West, all visitors come upon a section of wampum belt and the kind of statement that in the last several years has become standard fare at cultural institutions. — Marc Tracy, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads. — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Some of their gear—a pair of shoes, a VHF radio, a wampum sash worth several thousand dollars—now resides on the canal’s bottom. — Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023 See All Example Sentences for wampum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wampum
  1. money
  2. cash
  3. coin
  4. currency
  5. bucks
  6. gold
Noun
  • Celebrity has always been commercial, and famous people have always converted attention into money.
    — Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For one, California’s program has that annual cap on the total amount of money that can be awarded as production incentives, a limit that does not exist in other states and countries.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of money
Noun
  • The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 from Artemis Rising Foundation.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Offer is nontransferable, subject to availability, and has no cash value.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of cash
Noun
  • The study said the object, which left a greenish discoloration on her palate, was unlikely to be a coin, as the proportions of copper to gold did not correspond to those found in historical alloys.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Assuming 20 million coins in circulation, this would imply that one bitcoin would be priced at approximately $50 million.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of coin
Noun
  • Inflation has soared above 80% and the value of the rial currency has plummeted.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The scars of the 2008 financial crisis are still scorched into Icelandic memory, and the small national currency lends itself to volatility and inflation spirals.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of currency
Noun
  • Even during the rut, Infalt shoots most of his mature bucks in the thick stuff near where deer sleep.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Shopping malls across the country are roping off parking spaces closest to main entrances and food courts to make a few extra bucks.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bucks
Noun
  • The decor is heavily inspired by various forms of Mexican art, including La Huasteca embroidery, which focuses on bright floral and geometric patterns, as well as touches of gold accents inspired by Mayan culture.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Last October, a woman was arrested and charged over the theft of gold from the Natural History Museum in Paris.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gold

Browse Nearby Words

waltz (up)
wampum
wan
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Cite this Entry

“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wampum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wampum

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