noun
Common
Jefferson
JEH-fuh-suhn
Jefferson (noun) means a US two-dollar bill (informal, so called from the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on it). Example: “He paid for the coffee with a couple of Jeffersons.”
noun
1
A US two-dollar bill (informal, so called from the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on it).
""Gambling's not my form of masochism," said Carl. "Huh?" "So how much?" "The wad's mostly ones. Some Jeffersons. Two or three Abes.""
— J. Madison Davis, And the Angels Sing (1996)
"He paid for the coffee with a couple of Jeffersons."
"Two-dollar bills are rare, so people sometimes hang onto a Jefferson instead of spending it."
How to use Jefferson
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlang for a two-dollar bill, the way "a Benjamin" means a hundred-dollar bill.
When to use it
Informal, mostly American usage.
Common pairings
pay with a Jefferson
a couple of Jeffersons
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Word forms
- Plural
- Jeffersons
Fill the gap
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He paid for the coffee with a couple of _____.
Etymology
Named after Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president, whose portrait appears on the bill.
Synonyms
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two-dollar bill
deuce
Related words
Rhymes for Jefferson
person
Gerson
Emerson
Pierson
Iverson
Anderson
Paterson
Peterson
Amberson
Henderson
Patterson
Wilkerson
See all rhymes for Jefferson →
Frequently asked questions
What does “Jefferson” mean?
The word “Jefferson” means a US two-dollar bill (informal, so called from the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on it). In plain terms, slang for a two-dollar bill, the way "a Benjamin" means a hundred-dollar bill.
How do you pronounce “Jefferson”?
“Jefferson” is pronounced JEH-fuh-suhn (/ˈd͡ʒɛfɚsən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jefferson” in a sentence?
Here is “Jefferson” used in a sentence: “He paid for the coffee with a couple of Jeffersons.”
What part of speech is “Jefferson”?
“Jefferson” is a noun.
Is “Jefferson” a common word?
“Jefferson” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Why is a two-dollar bill called a Jefferson?
The US two-dollar bill is informally called a Jefferson because it carries a portrait of Thomas Jefferson. Naming banknotes after the person pictured on them is a common pattern in American slang.
Is a Jefferson the same as a Benjamin?
No. A Jefferson is informal slang for a US two-dollar bill, named for the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on it, while a Benjamin is slang for a hundred-dollar bill, which pictures Benjamin Franklin. The two nicknames refer to very different amounts of money.
Is Jefferson capitalized when it refers to money?
Yes. Because the slang term comes directly from the surname of Thomas Jefferson, it keeps its capital letter even when it refers to the banknote, as in "he paid with a Jefferson." The same convention applies to other bill nicknames drawn from proper names.
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