benjamins: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (within informal/slang registers)Informal, slang
Quick answer
What does “benjamins” mean?
Slang term for money, specifically one-hundred-dollar bills (featuring Benjamin Franklin's portrait).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Slang term for money, specifically one-hundred-dollar bills (featuring Benjamin Franklin's portrait).
A colloquial reference to wealth, large sums of cash, or financial resources in general, often used in contexts emphasizing prosperity, spending, or commercial success.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an Americanism. In British English, the slang is understood due to cultural exposure but is not natively produced. The core referent (the $100 bill) is not a part of the UK monetary system.
Connotations
In AmE: Strongly associated with rap/hip-hop, urban culture, and conspicuous consumption. In BrE: Recognised as an American cultural import with the same connotations, but feels more like a borrowed, niche term.
Frequency
Common in AmE informal speech (particularly in certain communities and music genres). Rare and marked as 'American' in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “benjamins” in a Sentence
[Subject] + verb (make/stack/count) + benjaminsPreposition 'of' (a wad/roll of benjamins)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used; considered unprofessional slang.
Academic
Not used; except perhaps in sociolinguistic or cultural studies discussing slang.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation among peers, often humorously or to sound streetwise.
Technical
Not used in finance or economics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “benjamins”
- Using it in singular form ('a benjamin') – it is almost always plural in the money sense.
- Using it in formal writing or speech.
- Assuming it refers to any denomination of money (specifically $100 bills).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely. The slang is firmly established as a plural noun referring to multiple bills or money in general. Saying 'a benjamin' would be non-standard and likely misunderstood.
No, its core meaning is specifically hundred-dollar bills, due to the portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Using it for other bills dilutes the specific cultural reference.
It entered mainstream American slang in the 1990s, heavily popularized by hip-hop and rap music, which often celebrated and referenced financial success and specific denominations of cash.
It is not inherently offensive, but it is very informal and culturally marked. Using it outside of appropriate casual contexts, or by someone unfamiliar with the culture it stems from, can sound inauthentic or trying too hard.
Slang term for money, specifically one-hundred-dollar bills (featuring Benjamin Franklin's portrait).
Benjamins is usually informal, slang in register.
Benjamins: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Make it rain (with benjamins)”
- “The benjamins are calling the shots”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill. 'Benjamins' = portraits of Benjamin = hundred-dollar bills.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A PERSON (personification via the portrait), WEALTH IS A PHYSICAL STACK (stacking benjamins).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'benjamins' be LEAST appropriate?