shekel
noun
shek·el ˈshe-kəl 
variants or sheqel
plural shekels or shekalim she-ˈkä-lim or shekelim shē-ˈkā-lim or sheqalim she-ˈkä-lim
or shekelim shē-ˈkā-lim or sheqalim she-ˈkä-lim 1
a
: any of various ancient units of weight
especially : a Hebrew unit equal to about 252 grains troy
b
: a unit of value based on a shekel weight of gold or silver
2
: a coin weighing one shekel
3
shekels plural, informal : money
… making boxing history in the ring in New York, Chicago and wherever else fans … were willing to unburden themselves of substantial sums of shekels for the pleasure of seeing two guys vent their nastiness on each other.
Pete Coutros
Pete Coutros4
the basic monetary unit of Israel see Money Table
Synonyms
- bread [slang]
- bucks
- cabbage [slang]
- cash
- change
- chips
- coin
- currency
- dough
- gold
- green
- jack [slang]
- kale [slang]
- legal tender
- lolly [British]
- long green [slang]
- loot
- lucre
- money
- moola [slang]
- moolah
- needful
- pelf
- scratch [slang]
- tender
- wampum
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In fact, everyone contributed the same amount: a half shekel, no more, no less. Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Feb. 2022 Once approved, more international investors will have the opportunity to benefit from the strong Israeli shekel as well as the dynamic and diverse tech industry. Carrie Rubinstein, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022 The city received a cost of living score of 106, due in large part to the strength of the Israeli shekel against the U.S. dollar. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2021 In November of 2021, the shekel reached $0.32, its highest valuation against the US dollar in more than two decades. Camille Squires, Quartz, 2 Dec. 2021 Much of this is thanks to the appreciation of Israel’s currency, the shekel. Camille Squires, Quartz, 2 Dec. 2021 The soaring shekel and price increases for goods including groceries and transport were the main factors in Tel Aviv taking the top spot, according to the EIU. Alex Millson, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2021 Part of the reason for Tel Aviv’s rise to the top was the strength of its currency, the shekel, when translated into dollars, the report said. NBC News, 1 Dec. 2021 Spotting a street vendor, Mr. al-Garosha stopped to buy two cigarettes, for a shekel each, with a five-shekel coin his mother had given him. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 See More
Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Feb. 2022 Once approved, more international investors will have the opportunity to benefit from the strong Israeli shekel as well as the dynamic and diverse tech industry. Carrie Rubinstein, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022 The city received a cost of living score of 106, due in large part to the strength of the Israeli shekel against the U.S. dollar. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2021 In November of 2021, the shekel reached $0.32, its highest valuation against the US dollar in more than two decades. Camille Squires, Quartz, 2 Dec. 2021 Much of this is thanks to the appreciation of Israel’s currency, the shekel. Camille Squires, Quartz, 2 Dec. 2021 The soaring shekel and price increases for goods including groceries and transport were the main factors in Tel Aviv taking the top spot, according to the EIU. Alex Millson, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2021 Part of the reason for Tel Aviv’s rise to the top was the strength of its currency, the shekel, when translated into dollars, the report said. NBC News, 1 Dec. 2021 Spotting a street vendor, Mr. al-Garosha stopped to buy two cigarettes, for a shekel each, with a five-shekel coin his mother had given him. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Hebrew sheqel
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
shekel
noun
shek·el
ˈshe-kəl
: a bill or coin used in Israel