Banks

American  

[bangks] / bæŋks /

noun

1. Sir Joseph, 1734–1820, English naturalist.

2. Nathaniel Prentiss 1816–94, U.S. army officer and politician: Speaker of the House 1856–57.

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Banks British  

/ bæŋks /

noun

1. Iain ( Menzies ). 1954–2013, Scottish novelist and science fiction writer. His novels include The Wasp Factory (1984), The Crow Road (1992), and The Steep Approach to Garbadale (2007); science-fiction (under the name Iain M. Banks) includes Look to Windward (2000)

2. Sir Joseph . 1743–1820, British botanist and explorer: circumnavigated the world with James Cook (1768–71)

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Banks Scientific  

/ băngks /

1. British botanist who took part in Captain James Cook's voyage around the world (1768–1771), during which he discovered and cataloged many species of plant and animal life.

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Example Sentences

Banks borrow at short-term rates and lend at long-term rates.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Banks in Europe have been particularly exposed, shareholders have been discovering in a drip feed of information since February.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

"There's a big message here, but the message isn't a new message," Jim Banks, one of the party's two Indiana senators, told Politico.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Banks lend to the private-credit market in at least seven ways, and there can be a dangerous layering effect, the Financial Stability Board, an international group of financial regulators, said in a report Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

“Without by your leave or a word of warning. And what am I to do?” said Mrs. Banks.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers