bullion
Americannoun
-
gold or silver considered in mass rather than in value.
-
gold or silver in the form of bars or ingots.
-
Also called bullion fringe. a thick trimming of cord covered with gold or silver thread, for decorating uniforms.
-
embroidery or lace worked with gold wire or gold or silver cords.
noun
-
gold or silver in mass
-
gold or silver in the form of bars and ingots, suitable for further processing
-
Also called: bullion fringe. a thick gold or silver wire or fringed cord used as a trimming, as on military uniforms
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bullion
1300–50; Middle English: melted mass of gold or silver < Anglo-Latin bulliōn- (stem of bulliō ) in same sense (< Anglo-French bullion mint), literally, a boiling, equivalent to bull ( īre ) to bubble, boil 1 + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
If you wanted to rob Fort Knox and take all of its gold, you'd plan a heist to get the bullion. Bullion is gold or silver in bulk, often in the shape of a bar. Once upon a time, coins were made of actual precious metals. Before the coins were made, the gold and silver for them was stored bulk, in bullion. Try not to confuse this word with, bouillon, which is broth, or a cube of beef or chicken flavoring used to make broth. If you see the OU in the first syllable, it's a clue that it's the sOUp. If you just see a "bull," think of the stock market and glittery gold.
Vocabulary lists containing bullion
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
In Cold Blood
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Society and Solitude
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A move toward a resolution could push bond yields down and boost the bullion, while a setback would strengthen the dollar and place pressure on the yellow metal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Meanwhile, continued gold purchases by China’s central bank, alongside ongoing reserve diversification by central banks globally, also provided underlying support for bullion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
And both of these are on top of the registered income Farage acknowledges, external for promoting gold bullion.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has earned £270,000 for advertising gold bullion - the single biggest payment he has registered since becoming an MP.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
In fact, for over a decade, when Cleofes Apodaca was in his prime, frogs were as scarce in that town as camels and gold bullion.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
