half dollar

American  

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 British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of half dollar

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

The bags contain dimes, quarters and half dollars.

From 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.

From Los Angeles Times

“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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From New York Times

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

From New York Times