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 often announce new buyback programs and dividend plans soon after the Fed releases results each year.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

Banks are expected to remain supported by resilient earnings, stable asset quality and strong capital positions, she adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

Banks reported a surge in "Hi Dad" scams in the run-up to Father's Day.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Sharks swimming north after overwintering near Florida often stop to feed and rest near the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras, said John Tyminski, a senior data scientist at OCEARCH, a nonprofit shark-tracking organization.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

An intellectually disabled black woman living in Choctaw County, Alabama, Ms. Banks was accused of killing her newborn child even though police had no credible basis for believing she had ever been pregnant.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson