Standard Lemma guide

obol

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

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.

  • General-American: /ˈɑ.bəl/
  • General-American: /ˈoʊ.bəl/
  • UK: /ˈɒ.bɒl/
  • UK: /ˈɒ.bəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Synonym of obolus: a silver coin of Ancient Greece.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Examples

  • In Classical Athens, there were six obols to one drachma.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obolus

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of obolus: a weight, equivalent to one sixth of a drachma.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obolus

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ὀβολός (obolós, literally “spit”). Doublet of obole and pul.