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greenback

The United States dollar.

/ɡɹˈinbæk/Current196 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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3 definitions
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Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

The United States dollar.

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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US) Any bill that is legal tender in the US (originally printed with green and black ink) issued by the Federal Reserve.

For parents

"greenback" means: Any bill that is legal tender in the US (originally printed with green and black ink) issued by the Federal Reserve.. This is technical or formal vocabulary, more likely to appear in school work, news or a particular profession than in peer chat. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your child uses the term, it is usually a sign of curiosity about a subject area. A short follow-up question about where they came across it is usually all that is needed.

For ESL learners

"greenback" means: Any bill that is legal tender in the US (originally printed with green and black ink) issued by the Federal Reserve.. Register: formal or technical English, standard in its specialist domain (law, medicine, science, finance, etc.). Gloss the term with a plain synonym when writing for a general audience. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and

Heard in the wild
  • “The US has suspended the escort service in the Strait of Hormuz and risk-appetites have jump. Equities and bonds have surged, while the greenback slumps. China re-opens and set USD fix at new multiyear low. See www.marctomarket.com/2026/05/taco...”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(historical) A unit of American currency issued during the Civil War by the Treasury Department.

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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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