greenback

noun

ˈgrēn-ˌbak How to pronounce greenback (audio)
Definition of greenbacknext
as in bill
a piece of printed paper used as money in the United States she threw a few greenbacks on the counter to pay for the drinks

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 greenback Brook trout typically compete with greenback cutthroat trout, and even prey on the younger greenbacks. — Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Back in the mid-1980s, the dollar’s strength against other major currencies triggered a crisis that had Washington reducing the value of the greenback, a key factor that led to the stock market crash in 1987. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The dollar’s valuation says little about dollar hegemony Executives and investors around the world have good reason to care about the greenback’s value as their revenues, assets, liabilities, and competitiveness often depend on it. — Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Fortune, 17 July 2026 Because gold is sold globally in dollars, a strong greenback makes gold more expensive for international buyers and decreases demand. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for greenback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greenback
  1. bill
  2. dollar
  3. note
  4. currency
Noun
  • Therefore, how much of the impact caused by El Niño will ultimately translate into the bills handed to consumers remains to be seen.
    — , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Watching the Lilith documentary and hearing about how two women can be played back-to-back on a radio or two women can be on a festival bill.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bill
Noun
  • Fans who have paid hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars, for access have more options.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Billions of dollars later, no track has been laid, and completion of the project is still a distant dream.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of dollar
Noun
  • Once home, hunched over a Nespresso, Tracey attended to the buildup on her iPhone, saving Lois’s WhatsApp voice note till last.
    — Helen Simpson, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Davis Polk's client note describes the package as continuing bombardment rather than storming the beaches, built from existing authorities.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of note
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

Browse Nearby Words

green
greenback
greenbacks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Greenback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greenback. Accessed 4 Sep. 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 apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All