IOU

or I.O.U.

1. a written acknowledgment of a debt, especially an informal one consisting only of the letters IOU, the sum owed, and the debtor's signature.

IOU

noun

1. a written promise or reminder to pay a debt

IOU

1. Abbreviation for “I owe you.” An IOU is a written statement of a borrower's obligation to pay a debt .

Word History and Origins

Origin of IOU¹

First recorded in 1610–20; representing I owe you

Word History and Origins

Origin of IOU¹

C17: representing I owe you

Example Sentences

The markets cheered as AIG touted a $35 billion dent on its taxpayer IOU.

From The Daily Beast

She is the author of the bestsellers The Silent Takeover and IOU: The Debt Threat .

From The Daily Beast

This way he had more to eat or to sell for IOU's to collect later.

From Project Gutenberg

“Good liquor spilt,” he remarked as he counted the money and drew another IOU for the amount loaned, which was sixty-seven pounds.

From Project Gutenberg

Au premier home du precieus lignaige, et au daerrain, ai iou deuise demonstrer mes meruelles.

From Project Gutenberg

The evening previous he had lost a thousand dollars, for which he had given his IOU.

From Project Gutenberg

It answers to the Welsh au or iau, and the Breton ou or iou.

From Project Gutenberg