commercial paper

American  

noun

1. negotiable paper, as drafts, bills of exchange, etc., given in the course of business.

2. corporate promissory notes, usually short-term and unsecured, sold in the open market.

---

commercial paper British  

noun

1. a short-term negotiable document, such as a bill of exchange, promissory note, etc, calling for the transference of a specified sum of money at a designated date

---

Etymology

Origin of commercial paper

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commercial paper

It was one of the pioneers in issuing commercial paper to fund banks’ lending activities, without being a bank itself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Cass is dismissive of “debt refinancings,” but some of us are old enough to remember the 2008 credit crunch when businesses had trouble issuing commercial paper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026

In 2008-09, the Fed extended extraordinary support beyond insured banks to investment banks, the commercial paper market, and insurance companies, such as AIG.

From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026

Multiple options exist for parking cash, such as investing in short-term government securities, money market instruments and corporate commercial paper.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2023

Pennsylvania trust companies apparently even now cannot discount commercial paper, but they may loan on it as collateral and may purchase it from the holder.

From Readings in Money and Banking Selected and Adapted by Chester Arthur Phillips

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---