petty cash

American  

noun

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

---

petty cash British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of petty cash

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

petty cash

Mr. Wahl said, `Go to the front desk and get a petty cash slip.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

“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

But I was gonna handle the petty cash situation.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña