lucre
Americannoun
noun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing lucre
Jane Eyre
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week In Words: November 2–8, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Challenge, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Then she tried a child’s story, which she could easily have disposed of if she had not been mercenary enough to demand filthy lucre for it.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
