prize money
Americannoun
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money offered, won, or received in prizes.
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a portion of the money realized from the sale of a prize, especially an enemy's vessel, divided among the captors.
noun
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any money offered, paid, or received as a prize
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(formerly) a part of the money realized from the sale of a captured vessel
Etymology
Origin of prize money
First recorded in 1740–50
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.
Instead, this week’s tournament at Chatham Hills in Indiana was turned into the season finale with reduced prize money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
There were reports of vendors suing LIV over unpaid invoices, and of prize money being paid more slowly than normal - although BBC Sport understands that latter issue has been resolved.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
It incentivized competition in part by dangling more than $500,000 in prize money for each player on the winning team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The event was set to be held at the end of August at The Cardinal at Saint John’s outside of Detroit, with $40 million in prize money on the line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
“We help you clear the gate, and in return, you agree to split the prize money with us?”
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
