call money
C2Formal, Technical, Financial
Definition
Meaning
Money lent by banks to brokers or other banks that is repayable on demand, typically overnight or for a very short term.
A short-term loan in the financial markets where the lender can demand repayment at any time, often used to meet temporary liquidity needs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical term in banking and finance. The 'call' refers to the lender's right to 'call in' (demand repayment of) the loan at short notice. Not to be confused with 'call' as in telephone communication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both British and American financial contexts with the same meaning.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency outside specialist financial discourse in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The bank provides call money to brokers.Brokers rely on call money for liquidity.The call money rate fluctuates daily.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; it is itself a technical compound term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Central to discussions of interbank lending and short-term corporate liquidity management.
Academic
Used in finance, economics, and banking textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary context; precise term in banking regulations, financial news, and market reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The broker needed to call money from the lender to cover the position.
- Banks often call money at the end of the trading day.
American English
- The firm had to call money to meet its reserve requirements.
- They can call the money back with just 24 hours' notice.
adverb
British English
- The funds were borrowed call-money, making it a flexible arrangement.
- Not applicable as standard usage.
American English
- The loan was structured call-money, giving the lender maximum control.
- Not applicable as standard usage.
adjective
British English
- The call-money market was particularly volatile.
- They entered into a call-money agreement.
American English
- The call-money rate is a key indicator of liquidity.
- He works in call-money trading.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This word is too advanced for A2 level.
- This word is too advanced for B1 level.
- The bank offered them call money to solve the short-term cash problem.
- Call money rates affect how much brokers pay for overnight loans.
- The volatility in the call money market reflected broader tensions in the financial system.
- As a money market instrument, call money provides crucial liquidity but carries rollover risk.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a banker who can CALL you at any time to demand his MONEY back. That's the key feature: repayable on demand.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A FLUID (liquidity, flow of funds, callable reservoir).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'call' as 'звонок'. The term is 'колл-мани' (transliterated) or 'однодневный кредит', 'ссуда до востребования'.
- Do not confuse with 'cold money' (холодные деньги) due to phonetic similarity.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'call money' to refer to telephone-based payments or mobile money.
- Treating it as a general synonym for 'cash'.
- Misspelling as 'cold money'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of 'call money'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Call money' is a specific type of short-term, repayable-on-demand loan between financial institutions. 'Cash' refers to physical currency or immediately available funds in general.
Typically no. Call money is a wholesale financial instrument used between banks, brokers, and other large financial entities, not for personal consumer lending.
It is the interest rate charged on call money loans. It is a sensitive indicator of short-term liquidity conditions in the banking system.
Because the lender has the right to 'call' the loan, meaning to demand its repayment, often on the same day.