grubstake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2informal, historical, business
Quick answer
What does “grubstake” mean?
An initial supply of money or provisions given to someone to start an enterprise, especially in mining or prospecting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An initial supply of money or provisions given to someone to start an enterprise, especially in mining or prospecting.
Any initial funding, resources, or support provided to help launch a project, business, or venture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both BrE and AmE recognize the term, but it has stronger historical roots and slightly higher contemporary frequency in AmE due to its connection with the American frontier and gold rushes.
Connotations
In AmE, retains stronger historical frontier imagery. In BrE, it may sound more like a borrowed Americanism or technical business term.
Frequency
Rare in everyday BrE; occasional in AmE business/investment contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “grubstake” in a Sentence
[Subject] provides [Recipient] with a grubstake (for [Project])[Recipient] receives a grubstake from [Source]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grubstake” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The venture capitalist agreed to grubstake the young software developers.
- He was grubstaked by a silent partner.
American English
- My uncle grubstaked my food truck idea with five thousand dollars.
- They're looking for someone to grubstake their mining expedition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally for angel investing or seed funding in startups.
Academic
Used in historical or economic studies of frontier economies or venture capital.
Everyday
Rare; might be used metaphorically ('My dad's loan was the grubstake for my bakery').
Technical
Not a standard term in formal finance; considered jargon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grubstake”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grubstake”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grubstake”
- Using it as a verb without the object ('He grubstaked' is incomplete; correct: 'He grubstaked the prospector').
- Confusing with 'grub' alone meaning food.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it originated in mining/prospecting contexts, it is now used metaphorically for seed money or startup resources in any business venture.
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'He grubstaked the startup.' It means to provide a grubstake to someone.
It is informal, often used in narrative or conversational business contexts rather than formal financial documents.
A grubstake is specifically startup funding, often in exchange for a future share of profits or equity, not just a repayable debt. It implies higher risk and potential reward for the provider.
An initial supply of money or provisions given to someone to start an enterprise, especially in mining or prospecting.
Grubstake: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡrʌbsteɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrʌbˌsteɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To stake/grubstake someone”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a miner needing 'grub' (food/supplies) and a 'stake' (a share/claim) to start digging. Grubstake = supplies to stake your claim.
Conceptual Metaphor
VENTURE FUNDING IS PROVISIONING FOR A JOURNEY (into the unknown).
Practice
Quiz
In its original, historical context, a 'grubstake' was most specifically: