Standard Lemma guide

bankroll

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈbæŋk.ɹoʊl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B AE1 NG K R OW2 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A roll of banknotes or other paper currency, carried in lieu of a wallet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Phil kept his bankroll in his front pocket, as it made too much of a lump to sit on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The monetary assets of a person or organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • Microsoft is a corporation with an extremely large bankroll.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To fund a project; to underwrite something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Professor Stebbins didn't need to apply for government grants because his lab was bankrolled by a large pharmaceutical corporation.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: finance, support, underwrite

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a roll of currency notes (often taken as the resources of a person or business etc.)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he shot his roll on a bob-tailed nag

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: roll

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: funds, finances, monetary resource, cash in hand, pecuniary resource

5

verb

Meaning 5

provide with sufficient funds; finance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Who will bankroll the restoration of the former East German economy?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fund

History

Etymology

Compound of bank + roll.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: een rol bankbiljetten — roll of banknotes
  • French: un rouleau de billets de banque — roll of banknotes
  • German: Bündel Geldscheine — roll of banknotes
  • German: Geldscheinbündel — roll of banknotes
  • Spanish: fajo — roll of banknotes
  • Spanish: billetaje — roll of banknotes
  • Dutch: fonds — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • Dutch: budget — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • French: fonds — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • French: capital — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • French: budget — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • German: Geldreserven — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • German: Spielgeld — monetary assets of a person or organization
  • Dutch: financieren — to fund a project
  • Finnish: rahoittaa — to fund a project
  • French: financer — to fund a project
  • German: finanzieren — to fund a project
  • German: die Kosten übernehmen — to fund a project
  • German: für die Kosten aufkommen — to fund a project
  • Swedish: finansiera — to fund a project