Phrase guide

king's ransom

noun · 2 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A very large sum of money.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: an arm and a leg, fortune, pretty penny

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a very large treasure

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: treasure, hoarded wealth

History

Etymology

From the exceptionally high ransom demanded for the return of a kidnapped or captured king.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: jättisumma — very large sum of money
  • Hungarian: borsos ár — very large sum of money
  • Hungarian: vagyon — very large sum of money
  • Russian: большо́й куш (bolʹšój kuš) — very large sum of money
  • Swedish: förmögenhet — very large sum of money
  • Swedish: furstlig summa — very large sum of money