cash
KASH
Cash (noun) means Physical money — banknotes and coins — rather than cheques or card payments. Example: “He paid for the taxi in cash.”
noun
1
Physical money — banknotes and coins — rather than cheques or card payments.
"He paid for the taxi in cash."
"The shop only takes cash, no cards."
"Do you have any cash on you, or shall I use my card?"
2
Money in general, including funds that are readily available.
"We can't buy a bigger van until we have more cash."
"The charity is raising cash to repair the village hall."
"The company is short on cash this quarter."
verb
1
To exchange a cheque for its equivalent in money.
"Where can I cash this cheque without paying a fee?"
"He went to the bank to cash his cheque."
"She cashed her paycheck at the corner store."
How to use cash
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysical money, or funds you can spend right away.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "cash" (money) with "cache" (a hidden store or computer memory) — they sound alike but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pay in cash
cash flow
cash a cheque
short on cash
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Word forms
- Plural
- cashes
- Third person singular
- cashes
- Past tense
- cashed
- Comparative
- more cash
- Superlative
- most cash
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He paid for the taxi in _____.
Etymology
From Middle French caisse ("money-box"), from Latin capsa ("box") — the same root that gives us "case" and "chase".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for cash
See all rhymes for cash →Frequently asked questions
What does “cash” mean?
The word “cash” means physical money — banknotes and coins — rather than cheques or card payments. In plain terms, physical money, or funds you can spend right away.
How do you pronounce “cash”?
“Cash” is pronounced KASH (/ˈkæʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cash” in a sentence?
Here is “cash” used in a sentence: “He paid for the taxi in cash.”
What part of speech is “cash”?
Depending on how it is used, “cash” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cash” come from?
The word “cash” comes from Latin. From Middle French caisse ("money-box"), from Latin capsa ("box") — the same root that gives us "case" and "chase".
Is “cash” a common word?
“Cash” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cash” have?
“Cash” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: physical money — banknotes and coins — rather than cheques or card payments.
What is the difference between cash and cache?
Cash is physical money — the banknotes and coins you use to pay for things. A cache, though pronounced the same way, is something quite different: a hidden store of items, or a fast-access area of computer memory. The two words share only their sound, not their meaning.
What is the difference between cash and money?
Cash is a specific form of money: physical notes and coins. Money is the broader idea, and includes funds held in bank accounts, cheques, and card balances that never take physical form. So all cash is money, but not all money counts as cash.
What is an example of cash?
Handing over a ten-pound note for a coffee, or dropping coins into a vending machine, are everyday examples of paying in cash. Tips left on a table, market-stall purchases, and the money in a wallet or till are all cash — money in physical form rather than digital.
Why do people still use cash?
Cash is accepted almost everywhere, needs no battery, signal, or bank, and leaves no digital trail, which many value for privacy and budgeting. It also helps people who lack bank accounts or cards. Even as card and phone payments grow, cash remains a reliable fallback.
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