wampum

noun

wam·​pum ˈwäm-pəm How to pronounce wampum (audio)
1
: beads of polished shells strung in strands, belts, or sashes and used by North American Indians as money, ceremonial pledges, and ornaments
2
dated, informal : money

Examples of wampum in a Sentence

made some real wampum on that last business deal
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Today, Mohegan Tribal Elder, Beth Regan presented Alissa Pili gifts from the Mohegan Tribe including a wampum necklace to honor her journey into the @WNBA as and Indigenous woman. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2024 Entering the New-York Historical Society from Central Park West, all visitors come upon a section of wampum belt and the kind of statement that in the last several years has become standard fare at cultural institutions. Marc Tracy, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Similar stories played out with other forms of money, such as wampum beads. Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Elizabeth James-Perry and Erin Genia: Wampanoag and Dakota Adornment James-Perry, honored this year with a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, makes wampum jewelry, textiles, and maritime art directly tied to her Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal heritage. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for wampum 

Word History

Etymology

short for wampumpeag

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wampum was in 1636

Dictionary Entries Near wampum

Cite this Entry

“Wampum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wampum. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

wampum

noun
wam·​pum ˈwäm-pəm How to pronounce wampum (audio)
1
: beads of polished shells formerly used by North American Indigenous peoples as money and ornaments
2
informal : money sense 1
used especially in the past
Etymology

from wamponpeag, a word in a North American Indigenous language literally meaning "white strings"

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