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• bis
  bis

  adverb

  twice.
• B.I.S.
  B.I.S.

  abbreviation

  Bank for International Settlements.
• BIS
  BIS

  abbreviation

  Bank for International Settlements: an institution, based in Basel, Switzerland, that accepts deposits, makes loans for national central banks, and assists in offsetting speculative movements of funds between the major currencies; set up in 1930

bis

¹ American  

[bis] / bɪs /

adverb

1. twice.

2. again (used as an enthusiastic call for the repetition of a musical performance).

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bis ² American  

[bis] / bɪs /

noun

1. a sheer, often embroidered linen, used in the manufacture of altar cloths.

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B.I.S. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Bank for International Settlements.

2. British Information Services.

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BIS ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Bank for International Settlements: an institution, based in Basel, Switzerland, that accepts deposits, makes loans for national central banks, and assists in offsetting speculative movements of funds between the major currencies; set up in 1930

2. Bosnia-Herzegovina (international car registration)

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bis ² British  

/ bɪs /

adverb

1. twice; for a second time (used in musical scores to indicate a part to be repeated)

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1. encore! again!

Etymology

Origin of bis¹

1810–20; < Italian < Latin; OL duis twice

Origin of bis²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin byssus byssus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bis B.I.S. BIS

“This lexicon gives a humorous and precise overview of the most important words and phrases of politically correct newspeak,” the back cover of Klaus Rainer Röhl’s Politisch Korrekt von A bis Z from 1995 promises.

From Slate ● Jan. 5, 2025

The "41 bis" is designed to prevent jailed organised crime leaders from communicating with outside affiliates, mostly by restricting their contacts with other inmates and visitors.

From Reuters ● Feb. 24, 2023

He fluffs his chip up, which comes back towards bis feet.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 8, 2022

For him, there is only the Zarathustran heroism of clawing from null bis eins, of escaping the herdlike mentality of das Mann for the freedom of the Übermensch.

From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2016

The young men thanked him for his good wishes, returned bis bow, and departed.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

The B.I.S. did not give any information on individual institutions, but Germany’s high exposure to Ireland probably stems at least in part from Hypo Real Estate, a bank in Munich.

From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2010

U.S. banks hold $41.2 billion in debt or other exposure to Greece, like derivatives contracts, the B.I.S. said.

From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2010

The E.C.B. has tightened its criteria for the collateral it accepts since the period covered by the B.I.S. statistics.

From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2010

Last week the B.I.S. had a record 580 members, including such philosophical well-wishers as George Bernard Shaw.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, as moneymen from 50 countries gathered at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, B.I.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

Tech companies are only the tip of a supply-chain iceberg, the BIS points out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

The BIS, a consortium for global central banks based in Switzerland, has raised the alarm early about crises in the past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

The BIS report warns that a corporate credit freeze has the potential to be as disruptive as the global financial crisis of 2008 or the dash-for-cash crisis of March 2020.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

The yearly report from the BIS was published Sunday during the annual general meeting held at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

"BIS," said I, "take my seat; I'll take a trip to the French camp."

From Punchinello, Volume 2, No. 27, October 1, 1870 by Various

Related Words

• anew
• over
• repeatedly