street money: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “street money” mean?
Cash distributed illegally, typically to influence voters, bribe officials, or pay for small, informal services in a local community.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Cash distributed illegally, typically to influence voters, bribe officials, or pay for small, informal services in a local community.
Funds used for immediate, often illicit, transactional purposes in urban environments; can refer to petty cash for grassroots political operations, small bribes, or money for informal neighborhood dealings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English, particularly in political journalism. In British English, similar concepts might be referred to with phrases like "cash for votes" or "backhander," but "street money" is understood.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both varieties, associated with political corruption and vote-buying.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US political reporting, especially during elections. Rare in UK mainstream media but understood in context.
Grammar
How to Use “street money” in a Sentence
The candidate was accused of distributing street money.They used street money to buy influence.The payment was classic street money.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “street money” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The agent was suspected of street-moneying voters in the constituency.
American English
- Politicians have been known to street-money key precincts on election day.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic street-money operation.
American English
- They uncovered a street-money scheme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in formal business contexts.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, or criminology papers discussing corruption.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing politics or local corruption.
Technical
Used as a specific term in investigative journalism and law enforcement reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “street money”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “street money”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “street money”
- Using it to mean 'money for shopping' or 'cash one carries personally.'
- Confusing it with legitimate 'street vendor' income.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Street money' specifically implies illicit cash for influence or bribes. Legitimate earnings (e.g., a street performer's tips) are not called street money.
No. While you might have 'cash in your pocket' for daily use, this is not the idiomatic meaning of 'street money,' which is tied to corruption.
It is understood, but it is an American political term. British reports might use "cash for votes" or "bribes" more frequently.
Possessing cash is not illegal. However, the *act* of distributing or receiving it for the purpose of bribery or buying votes is illegal in most jurisdictions.
Cash distributed illegally, typically to influence voters, bribe officials, or pay for small, informal services in a local community.
Street money is usually informal, slang in register.
Street money: in British English it is pronounced /striːt ˈmʌni/, and in American English it is pronounced /strit ˈmʌni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all street money and promises.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine money changing hands on a dark street corner – that's 'street money,' not in a bank, but on the pavement for a shady deal.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORRUPTION IS A STREET TRANSACTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'street money' MOST likely to be used?