petty cash

American  

noun

1. a cash fund for paying small charges, as for minor office supplies or deliveries.

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petty cash British  

noun

1. a small cash fund kept on a firm's premises for the payment of minor incidental expenses

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Etymology

Origin of petty cash

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

“Our staff keeps petty cash in case one of our clients needs an Uber or a hotel night or bus fare to get back home. The court doesn’t provide that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

“We want the government to provide emergency services like helping fund tickets, food, petty cash, and cellphones and emergent medical needs on arrival,” Vazquez said.

From Washington Post • Jul. 14, 2022

The break has been nice, and I’ve DoorDashed to make some petty cash through it, while my partner has done odd jobs.

From Slate • Oct. 13, 2021

After a burglar bashed a hole in our front door, we kept the petty cash in the bookshelves behind a volume of Ezra Pound.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2019

I’d pulled two twenties and a ten from the petty cash for the party and both Jacksons were still in my pocket.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña