black money

American  

noun

1. income earned surreptitiously or illegally, usually in cash, and not reported to the government so as to avoid paying taxes on it.

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black money British  

noun

1. that part of a nation's income that relates to its black economy

2. any money that a person or organization acquires illegally, as by a means that involves tax evasion

3. money to fund a government project that is concealed in the cost of some other project

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Etymology

Origin of black money

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Promoted as an effort to eradicate black money in politics, the shock devastated small businesses that ran on cash.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2023

Obscure black money was a large source of funding for one of the world’s most expensive elections.

From Slate • May 31, 2019

Past efforts to attract black money into the light—using tax amnesties, for example—have had little effect.

From Economist • Dec. 1, 2016

In a country where "black money", or undeclared wealth, is rampant, Sahara's size and spending power have long fuelled speculation over how the company operates.

From Reuters • Sep. 26, 2012

Edward VI. coined silver farthings, but Queen Elizabeth conceived a great prejudice to copper coins, from the spurious "black money," or copper coins washed with silver, which had got into circulation.

From Old and New London Volume I by Thornbury, Walter