bill of exchange

noun phrase

: an unconditional written order from one person to another to pay a specified sum of money to a designated person

Examples of bill of exchange in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The bill of exchange was a sort of precursor to the traveler’s check: a document representing a quantity of gold that could be exchanged for the real thing in a different city. IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2012 The invention of the bill of exchange, which laid the groundwork for the emergence of paper money in the West, also occurred during this period. IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2012

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bill of exchange.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bill of exchange was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near bill of exchange

Cite this Entry

“Bill of exchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bill%20of%20exchange. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

bill of exchange

see bill sense 7

More from Merriam-Webster on bill of exchange

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