half dollar

noun

1. a silver or cupronickel coin of the U.S., equal to 50 cents.

2. a silver or nickel coin of Canada, equal to 50 cents.

half-dollar

noun

1. (in the US) a 50-cent piece

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-dollar¹

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

The bags contain dimes, quarters and half dollars.

Read more on Barron's

At the same, however, his administration is expected to adopt stricter limits on carbon fuels that could drive up per gallon costs by almost a half dollar or more just days after the election.

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“We spent a million and a half dollars on the park two years ago, and it all went down the drain,” Langer said of one of many attempts over the years to address the decay.

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In coming years, nearly a trillion and a half dollars will go into constructing pipelines and terminals, according to Global Energy Monitor.

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The new coins — a gold $5, a silver dollar and a half dollar — celebrate the bicentennial of the abolitionist’s birthday.

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