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
  • 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
  • There is no Florida law that requires a business to accept cash.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 July 2026
  • While hardware is still its bread and butter, the company is investing significant amounts of resources and cash into growing a wider healthcare ecosystem.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of cash
Noun
  • Cooper won a coin toss and received Bueckers, the leader in fan votes.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • Peak Design previously made a card-sized location tracking device (similar to an AirTag), and it's now shrunk that down to a coin-sized version that fits in the baseplate.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
Definition of coin
Noun
  • The cash is converted to crypto currency and transferred to criminals - sometimes in just seconds.
    — Aki Nace, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • If the disruption lasts, Russia could choke off a crucial source of foreign currency for Ukraine and boost Russia’s international negotiating leverage by inflicting pain on major grain importers in Africa and Asia.
    — Ian Bremmer, Time, 31 July 2026
Definition of currency
Noun
  • Between it and the wireless mic, the extra hundred-ish bucks for the Vlog Combo is more than justified.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026
  • Names For July’s Full Moon The Buck Moon name is a reference to the antlers of male deer (bucks), which are in full growth in July in North America.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of bucks
Noun
  • The less said about Bryan’s horrendously gauche fuchsia-and-gold dress with puffy armholes and halter neck the better.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • Choose from a variety of finishes including silver, yellow gold, and rose gold, each with a secure clasp for everyday wear.
    — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of gold

Browse Nearby Words

waltz (up)
wampum
wan
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wampum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wampum

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