What does "shilling" mean?
A coin formerly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries worth twelve old pence, or one twentieth of a pound sterling.
Shilling
/ˈʃɪlɪŋ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A coin formerly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries worth twelve old pence, or one twentieth of a pound sterling.
- Grammar: shilling is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bob, abraham's willing, advertise, afghani.
- Useful contrasts: authentic endorsement, criticize, disparage.
- Usage evidence: I'm not sure how I got a shilling in my change from the cashier.
How to use "shilling"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "shilling" 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 "shilling" 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 "shilling" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "shilling" 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 "shilling" is acting as name, noun, verb 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 "bob" 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 "shilling", 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 A coin formerly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries worth twelve old pence, or one twentieth of a pound sterling. historical
"A great bargain also had been[…]the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire. In fact, that arm-chair had been an extravagance of Mrs. Bunting. She had wanted her husband to be comfortable after the day's work was done, and she had paid thirty-seven shillings for the chair."
- 2 an English coin worth one twentieth of a pound wordnet
- 3 The currency of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
- 4 a former monetary unit in Great Britain wordnet
- 5 A currency in the United States, differing in value between states. US, historical
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 the basic unit of money in Kenya; equal to 100 cents wordnet
- 7 The Spanish real, formerly having the value of one eighth of a dollar. US, historical
- 8 the basic unit of money in Somalia; equal to 100 cents wordnet
- 9 Alternative form of schilling, a coin formely used in Germany and German states, worth twelve pfennig. alt-of, alternative, historical
"The smaller silver coins of Europe, such as the solidus or German shilling, the mark, and others never found their way east in any quantity on account of their small size and value."
- 10 the basic unit of money in Tanzania; equal to 100 cents wordnet
- 11 Alternative form of skilling, a coin formely used in Danemark, Norway or Sweden, worth twelve penning. alt-of, alternative, historical
"And without that profit an employee with my salary can make only a poor living and not be able to save one Danish shilling."
- 12 the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of shill form-of, gerund, participle, present
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"I'm not sure how I got a shilling in my change from the cashier."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "shilling"?
Common synonyms include: bob, abraham's willing, advertise, afghani, anna, baht.
How do you use "shilling" in a sentence?
I'm not sure how I got a shilling in my change from the cashier.
How do you pronounce "shilling"?
Pronounced /ˈʃɪlɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English schilling, shilling, from Old English sċilling, from Proto-Germanic *skillingaz, equivalent to skill + -ing. Doublet of scalding and schilling.
Etymology 2
See shill.