bullion

noun

bul·​lion ˈbu̇l-yən How to pronounce bullion (audio) -ˌyän How to pronounce bullion (audio)
1
a
: gold or silver considered as so much metal
the bullion contained in a silver dollar
specifically : uncoined gold or silver in bars or ingots
over a million dollars in gold bullion
b
: metal in the mass
lead bullion
2
clothing : lace, braid, or fringe of gold or silver threads
the bullion on his uniform

Examples of bullion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Knight mentions what many consider the holy grail of colonial shipwrecks—the San José, a ship loaded with gold bullion that was sunk off the coast of Cartagena by the British naval squadron of Commodore Wager, in 1708—and writes that it was discovered by the Colombian government in 2015. The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 The fund's assets include only gold bullion and cash, with 32,699.485 ounces of gold held at a market value of $85,998,011 as of September 30, 2024. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024 Another consideration when buying gold in the retail market is how the sticker price of the bullion compares to the spot price of gold. Erika Tulfo, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024 Gold as an Investment Investors have several ways to include gold in their portfolios: Physical Gold: Coins like American Eagles or bullion bars are popular for those seeking direct ownership. Bymatthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bullion 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French billion, bullion melting house, bullion, probably blend of Middle French bille ingot, piece of money (from Old French, log) and Anglo-French *bulliun, buillun cauldron, from Old French boillon froth on boiling liquid, broth — more at billet, bouillon

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bullion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bullion

Cite this Entry

“Bullion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullion. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

bullion

noun
bul·​lion ˈbu̇l-yən How to pronounce bullion (audio)
: gold or silver especially in bars or blocks

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