IOU

or I.O.U.

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

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TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of IOU

First recorded in 1610–20; representing I owe you

Words nearby IOU

iota, iotacism, iothalamate sodium, iothalamic acid, Iō-tō, IOU, -ious, IOW, Iowa, Iowa City, Iowan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use IOU in a sentence

The markets cheered as AIG touted a $35 billion dent on its taxpayer IOU.
When Will We Get Our Money Back?|Nomi Prins|March 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
She is the author of the bestsellers The Silent Takeover and IOU: The Debt Threat .
The New Co-op Capitalism|Noreena Hertz|February 23, 2009|DAILY BEAST
This way he had more to eat or to sell for IOU's to collect later.
The Biography of a Rabbit|Roy Benson
“Good liquor spilt,” he remarked as he counted the money and drew another IOU for the amount loaned, which was sixty-seven pounds.
The Tale of Timber Town|Alfred Grace

Au premier home du precieus lignaige, et au daerrain, ai iou deuise demonstrer mes meruelles.
Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail|Alfred Nutt
The evening previous he had lost a thousand dollars, for which he had given his IOU.
Jack's Ward|Horatio Alger, Jr.
It answers to the Welsh au or iau, and the Breton ou or iou.
A Handbook of the Cornish Language|Henry Jenner

British Dictionary definitions for IOU

IOU

noun

a written promise or reminder to pay a debt

Word Origin for IOU

C17: representing I owe you

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for IOU

IOU

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