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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wampum
Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads.
—
Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Elizabeth James-Perry and Erin Genia: Wampanoag and Dakota Adornment
James-Perry, honored this year with a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, makes wampum jewelry, textiles, and maritime art directly tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal heritage.
—Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
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
There is a really quite amazing scene when Civility and Satcheechoe take a string of wampum and wrap it around the Pennsylvania governor’s arm to symbolically pull him to Albany to meet with all the Native people who have become involved in this case.
—Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Elizabeth James-Perry and Erin Genia: Wampanoag and Dakota Adornment
James-Perry, honored this year with a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, makes wampum jewelry, textiles, and maritime art directly tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal heritage.
—Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023
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
There is a really quite amazing scene when Civility and Satcheechoe take a string of wampum and wrap it around the Pennsylvania governor’s arm to symbolically pull him to Albany to meet with all the Native people who have become involved in this case.
—Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for wampum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wampum
Noun
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The bill expanded background checks for gun purchasers under the age of 21 and also provided federal money for state red flag laws.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
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While a few lifers grumble, this infusion of talent (not to mention tech money) is good news for residents and travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s plenty of cash available for pristine credits with credible AI narratives.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Fundraisers can be set up in minutes through a simple app, with no inventory or cash handling required, and organizations keep 50% of every dollar sold.—
Tim Heitmann,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In lieu of fancy cars, everyone got to the ceremony on pick-up trucks, and were given distinctive, rare Buffalo nickel coins to carry around, to show the security teams when required.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
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For those considering adding the metal to their portfolios, the good news is that there are multiple ways to invest in silver — from physical coins and bars to ETFs, mining stocks and more advanced trading instruments.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Outrage is the currency of choice.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
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Emerging markets currencies like the Brazilian real , Mexican peso and Indian rupee posted notable losses versus the dollar.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Add the wine pairing for an extra few bucks, ending with strawberry rhubarb shortcake and Moscato.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
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By just about any measure this spring, only the big-bucks Dodgers and Blue Jays are held in higher esteem than the Mariners, whose payroll is lighter than the Rangers’.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 6,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The bar boasts almost 360 sky-high views of Manhattan in a moody space filled with red velvet booths and gold accents.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
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No frills, no fancy claims to fame; the Jet Set features the brand’s signature logo-print canvas, a clean and classic silhouette, and luxe gold hardware that goes with everything.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wampum. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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