money order

American  

noun

money orders plural

1. an order for the payment of money, as one issued by one bank or post office and payable at another.

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money order British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): postal order.  a written order for the payment of a sum of money, to a named payee, obtainable and payable at a post office

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• money orders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of money order

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

money order

Users on China’s WeChat and Alipay—owned by local technology giants Tencent and Ant, respectively—tap mini-apps and features available on the platforms to transfer money, order food, book travel and play games.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

A subsequent audit revealed that approximately 5,100 of those 10,000 money order forms were missing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2025

In its filing, the Postal Service said it’s also seeking price adjustments on special services such as money order fees and certified mail.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2024

Included with the coupon was a money order for $21.45, intended to cover the $19.95 cost of a Mannlicher-Carcano, specially outfitted by Klein’s with a 4x telescopic sight, and shipping and handling.

From Slate ● Nov. 22, 2023

I went to the bank and deposited the check and the money order and the other ten, and stopped at the telegraph office.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

Related Words

• bill