black money: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, economic, legal
Quick answer
What does “black money” mean?
Money that is earned illegally and not declared to tax authorities, or used in illicit activities such as corruption, bribery, or organized crime.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Money that is earned illegally and not declared to tax authorities, or used in illicit activities such as corruption, bribery, or organized crime.
Funds obtained through criminal activity, on which taxes have been evaded, and which are therefore not part of the official, recorded economy. It can also refer to money used to finance illegal political activities or to circumvent campaign finance laws.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of illegality, corruption, and economic harm in both BrE and AmE.
Frequency
Equally common in journalistic and economic discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “black money” in a Sentence
The government is investigating the flow of black money.Politicians were accused of accepting black money.Authorities seized assets bought with black money.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black money” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scheme was designed to black-money its way into the property market.
- They were accused of black-moneying the campaign funds.
American English
- The syndicate was black-moneying profits through shell companies.
- Politicians feared being linked to black-moneyed contributions.
adverb
British English
- The assets were acquired black-money.
- The funds moved black-money through offshore accounts.
American English
- The deal was financed black-money.
- The payments were made black-money to avoid detection.
adjective
British English
- The black-money economy is a significant problem.
- They uncovered a complex black-money network.
American English
- The investigation focused on black-money transactions.
- He was involved in black-money operations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in the context of corporate fraud, tax evasion schemes, and unethical business practices.
Academic
Analyzed in economics, political science, and law papers concerning shadow economies, corruption, and financial crime.
Everyday
Used in news reports about political scandals, raids on wealthy individuals, or government anti-corruption drives.
Technical
A specific term in law enforcement and finance for proceeds of crime subject to anti-money laundering regulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black money”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black money”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black money”
- Using 'dark money' interchangeably. While similar, 'dark money' in US politics specifically refers to undisclosed political donations, a subset of black money.
- Confusing with 'black market', which is the arena where black money is often used.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While black money is often held in cash to avoid records, 'cash' itself is legal. Black money refers specifically to the illegal origin or undeclared status of the funds, regardless of form.
'Black money' is the illicit funds themselves. 'Money laundering' is the process of making that illegally obtained money appear legal ('clean'). Laundering is what people do *with* black money.
Yes. If illegally obtained or undeclared funds are deposited into a bank account (often through layering in the money laundering process), they are still considered black money. The term describes the nature of the funds, not their physical location.
No, the term is not related to race. It uses the conceptual metaphor where 'black' signifies something hidden, illegal, or bad (like 'black market', 'blacklist'). It is a standard, neutral term in economics and law.
Money that is earned illegally and not declared to tax authorities, or used in illicit activities such as corruption, bribery, or organized crime.
Black money is usually formal, journalistic, economic, legal in register.
Black money: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmʌni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈmʌni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To follow the black money trail”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of money that operates in the 'black' or dark, hidden from the light of government oversight and taxation.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLACK IS BAD/ILLEGAL (contrasted with 'white' for legal, clean money). MONEY IS A LIQUID (it 'flows', can be 'channeled', 'laundered').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'black money'?