IOU

American  

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.

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IOU British  

noun

1. a written promise or reminder to pay a debt

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IOU Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of IOU

First recorded in 1610–20; representing I owe you

Example Sentences

Instead, the central bank created an IOU in 2022 that it calls a “deferred asset.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Essentially, you borrow from the account and create an IOU to yourself.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

Credit is the promise to pay money, an IOU.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Investors see US Treasury securities as one of the safest possible bets, because the bonds - which are kind of like an IOU - are backed by the US government.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2025

On the shore was a canoe rental operation that was closed for the season, but I left a stack of golden drachmas on the counter and a note saying IOU two canoes.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan