noun
Common
Treasury
Treasury (noun) means a government department that manages public money — its collection, storage, and spending. Example: “The Treasury announced new tax guidelines this week.”
noun
1
A government department that manages public money — its collection, storage, and spending.
"The Treasury announced new tax guidelines this week."
2
A bond issued by a national treasury department.
"“The prospects for long-term Treasuries are looking very good right now,” said Michael Contopoulos, director of fixed-income strategy at Richard Bernstein Advisors."
— Jeff Sommer, After a Terrible Year for Bonds, the Outlook Is Better (2022)
"The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which underpins corporate and consumer borrowing and is arguably the most important interest rate in the world, rose roughly 0.1 percentage points on Friday."
— Joe Rennison, ‘This is Not Normal’: Trump’s Tariffs Upend the Bond Market (2025)
"She invested her savings in short-term treasuries."
"As the Fed moves to adjust for faster growth, shorter-maturity Treasurys will be more vulnerable to further price declines while the risk of a sudden spike in inflation will diminish."
— Scott Minerd, A Contrarian's View on Inflation Fears (2016)
How to use Treasury
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe treasury is the part of government (or a fund) that handles money — taxes, spending, and debt.
Common pairings
the U.S. Treasury
treasury bond
treasury department
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Treasury.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Treasuries, Treasurys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ announced new tax guidelines this week.
Etymology
Came into English from Middle English tresorie, from Old French tresorie, from tresor, meaning 'treasure', from Latin thēsaurus, meaning 'treasure', from Ancient Greek θησαυρός (thēsaurós), meaning 'treasure house'. It displaced the native Old English word māþmhūs.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Treasury
See all rhymes for Treasury →Frequently asked questions
What does “Treasury” mean?
The word “Treasury” means a government department that manages public money — its collection, storage, and spending. In plain terms, the treasury is the part of government (or a fund) that handles money — taxes, spending, and debt.
How do you use “Treasury” in a sentence?
Here is “Treasury” used in a sentence: “The Treasury announced new tax guidelines this week.”
What part of speech is “Treasury”?
“Treasury” is a noun.
Is “Treasury” a common word?
“Treasury” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Treasury” have?
“Treasury” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a government department that manages public money — its collection, storage, and spending.
What is the difference between "treasury" and "treasure"?
A "treasury" is a government department that manages public money, or a bond it issues. "Treasure" means valuable objects such as gold, jewels, or coins. The treasury manages funds, while treasure is the wealth itself.
What is the difference between the "Treasury" and the "Exchequer"?
Both refer to the part of government that manages public finances. "Treasury" is the common modern term, while "Exchequer" is the traditional British name for the same function, seen in the title Chancellor of the Exchequer. They point to the same area of government.
What is a "Treasury bond"?
A "Treasury bond" is a debt security issued by a national treasury department to borrow money, which it later repays with interest. This matches the second sense of "treasury" as a bond issued by the government. "Treasury bill" refers to a similar but shorter-term instrument.
When should "Treasury" be capitalised?
Capitalise "Treasury" when it names a specific government department, as in "the U.S. Treasury" or "the Treasury announced." Use a lowercase "treasury" for the general idea of a place or fund where valuables and money are kept.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Treasury:
