quarter dollar
MediumInformal, Numismatic
Definition
Meaning
A coin of the United States or Canada worth one-fourth of a standard dollar.
A common term for the specific coin, the quarter; can refer metaphorically to a small sum of money.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Quarter dollar" is the official designation, but in everyday American English, it is almost universally shortened to "quarter." The full term might be used for clarity in international contexts or in formal/legal documents.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK and other Commonwealth countries, "quarter dollar" is not a native currency concept and would only be used when referring specifically to US or Canadian currency. The term is primarily American.
Connotations
In the US: mundane, everyday currency. In the UK: an explicit reference to foreign (American) money.
Frequency
Extremely frequent in US English (as 'quarter'); very low frequency in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Have + quarter dollar + for + noun (I have a quarter dollar for the meter)Insert + quarter dollar + into + nounA quarter dollar + is + adjectiveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a quarter dollar to his name (very poor)”
- “Turn on a quarter dollar (maneuver sharply)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare except in vending or cash-handling contexts ('The machine accepts quarter dollars').
Academic
Used in economics (currency studies) or history (numismatics).
Everyday
Common in the US and Canada for transactions and casual reference to small change.
Technical
Used in minting, coin collecting, and vending machine specifications.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a quarter dollar for the trolley.
- This candy costs a quarter dollar.
- The parking meter requires one US quarter dollar every hour.
- Do you have a Canadian quarter dollar I could use for the laundromat?
- The vending machine's coin mechanism was calibrated specifically for the new series of quarter dollars.
- His coin collection featured every state-themed quarter dollar minted since 1999.
- While the nominal value of a quarter dollar remains constant, its purchasing power has diminished significantly over the decades.
- The legal tender act specifies the precise silver content for minting a standard quarter dollar.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FOUR quarters make a whole DOLLAR. A 'quarter' is one-fourth, just like a quarter of an hour is 15 minutes, and a quarter dollar is 25 cents.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE AS FRACTION (a fraction of a whole), SMALL RESOURCE (a small amount of money).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as *'четверть доллара'* in casual speech; it sounds unnatural. The standard term is 'двадцать пять центов' or the borrowed 'квотер'.
- Do not confuse with 'quarter' meaning a district or living space.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quarter dollar' in casual UK conversation where it is irrelevant.
- Saying 'quarter of a dollar' instead of the fixed compound 'quarter dollar'.
- Confusing it with a half-dollar (50-cent piece).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the full term 'quarter dollar' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in everyday American English, 'quarter' is the universal short form for 'quarter dollar.' The full term is formal/official.
Only countries that use 'dollars' as currency can have quarters. Canada has a 'quarter' (CAD 0.25). Other dollar-using nations (e.g., Australia, NZ) do not commonly use a quarter-dollar denomination.
This is an archaic term from when the Spanish milled dollar (piece of eight) was cut into eight 'bits' or 'reales.' Two bits (2/8) equaled a quarter of the dollar.
No, unless you are specifically discussing US or Canadian currency. In general UK contexts, it is irrelevant. Refer to '25 cents' or just 'a quarter' if the American context is clear.