Greenbacks: meaning, definitions and examples
💵
greenbacks
[ ˈɡriːnbæks ]
money
Greenbacks are paper currency issued by the United States during the American Civil War. They were called greenbacks because the reverse side was printed in green ink. Greenbacks served as legal tender and were not backed by gold or silver.
Synonyms
banknotes, currency, paper money.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| greenbacks |
Usually used in the context of American currency, particularly referring to U.S. paper money. Often used informally or historically to describe dollar bills.
|
| paper money |
Broad term used to describe any money made from paper, including both banknotes and other forms of currency. Often used in everyday conversations.
|
| currency |
General term used to describe all forms of money in circulation within a particular country's economy. Can refer to both paper and coin forms as well as digital money.
|
| banknotes |
Formal term used to describe paper money issued by a bank to be used as legal tender. The term is more common in formal and financial settings.
|
Examples of usage
- During the Civil War, the government printed greenbacks to finance the war effort.
- Greenbacks were widely used in the North to pay for goods and services.
- The value of greenbacks fluctuated based on the government's financial situation.
Translations
Translations of the word "greenbacks" in other languages:
🇵🇹 notas de dólar
🇮🇳 डॉलर के नोट
🇩🇪 Dollarnoten
🇮🇩 uang kertas dolar
🇺🇦 доларові банкноти
🇵🇱 banknoty dolarowe
🇯🇵 ドル紙幣
🇫🇷 billets de dollar
🇪🇸 billetes de dólar
🇹🇷 dolar banknotları
🇰🇷 달러 지폐
🇸🇦 أوراق الدولار النقدية
🇨🇿 dolarové bankovky
🇸🇰 dolárové bankovky
🇨🇳 美元纸钞
🇸🇮 dolarjevi bankovci
🇮🇸 dollarseðlar
🇰🇿 долларлық банкноттар
🇬🇪 დოლარის ბანკნოტები
🇦🇿 dollar əskinasları
🇲🇽 billetes de dólar
Etymology
The term 'greenbacks' originated from the green ink used on the back of the notes. They were first issued in 1862 to help finance the Civil War. The use of greenbacks helped stabilize the economy during the war, but their value fluctuated due to the lack of gold or silver backing. After the war, efforts were made to return to the gold standard, reducing the reliance on greenbacks.
See also: evergreen, green, greenback, greenery, greenhorn, greenhouse, greenness, greens, greenstone, greensward.