lucre

American  

[loo-ker] / ˈlu kər /

noun

1. monetary reward or gain; money.

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lucre British  

/ ˈluːkə /

noun

1. facetious money or wealth (esp in the phrase filthy lucre )

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Etymology

Origin of lucre

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lucrum profit; akin to Old English lēan reward, German Lohn, Gothic, Old Norse laun

Explanation

Lucre is another word for money, or profit. It's most often used to describe money gotten illegally or immorally. Well-heeled bankers and lawyers make profits; drug dealers and bank robbers get filthy, rotten lucre. You might think of lucre as the term that gets at the dark side of capitalism. Some people will do anything in the pursuit of lucre. Political groups that call Hollywood immoral still accept the lucre that it offers. We all love money, except when it causes us to do terrible things to ourselves and others. Then it's lucre.

Example Sentences

And he's making it very clear that he will not be happy if they don't come across with plenty of lucre to fill his royal coffers.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2024

Attackers could include “hacktivists” seeking to make a political statement and cyberextortionists bent on lucre.

From Seattle Times • May 3, 2024

Even those devoted to the accumulation of lucre might discover how they can bring business skills to needy communities — at least that is the hoped-for outcome.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2023

They’d rather keep selling expensive services to rich people, with the lucre and status that brings.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2022

Of course for some Everesters myriad other, less virtuous, motives came into play, as well: minor celebrity, career advancement, ego massage, ordinary bragging rights, filthy lucre.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer