What does "boodle" mean?
Money, especially when acquired or spent illegally or improperly; swag.
Boodle
/ˈbuːdəl/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Money, especially when acquired or spent illegally or improperly; swag.
- Grammar: boodle is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: batch, beat, bilk, black money see thesaurus:booty.
- Useful contrasts: few items, meager sum, pittance.
- Usage evidence: around 1900, O. Henry, According to Their Lights He was your 'man higher up' when you were on the force. His share of the boodle passed through your hands. You must go on the stand and testify against him.
How to use "boodle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "boodle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "boodle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "boodle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "boodle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "boodle" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "batch" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "boodle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Money, especially when acquired or spent illegally or improperly; swag. countable, slang, uncountable
"around 1900, O. Henry, According to Their Lights He was your 'man higher up' when you were on the force. His share of the boodle passed through your hands. You must go on the stand and testify against him."
- 2 a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck); a player plays the lowest card of a suit in their hand and successively higher cards are played until the sequence stops; the player who plays a card matching one in the layout wins all the chips on that card wordnet
- 3 The whole collection or lot; caboodle. US, countable, dialectal, uncountable
"He pulled off his coat and threw it down, and declared he'd fight the whole boodle of 'em"
- 4 informal terms for money wordnet
- 5 Candy and snacks. US, countable, slang, uncountable
"Send the first boodle in an airtight container so that there is a place for the storage of future packages […] Suggestions for Boodle: cookies, candy, individual packets of drink mixes (sugar-free), raisins, nuts, gum."
Verb
- 1 To engage in bribery. slang
Antonyms
Example
"around 1900, O. Henry, According to Their Lights He was your 'man higher up' when you were on the force. His share of the boodle passed through your hands. You must go on the stand and testify against him."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "boodle"?
Common synonyms include: batch, beat, bilk, black money see thesaurus:booty, blackmail, blunt.
How do you use "boodle" in a sentence?
around 1900, O. Henry, According to Their Lights He was your 'man higher up' when you were on the force. His share of the boodle passed through your hands. You must go on the stand and testify against him.
How do you pronounce "boodle"?
Pronounced /ˈbuːdəl/.
Etymology
From Dutch boedel. Doublet of bottle (dialectal term meaning building or house).