promissory note

American  

noun

• promissory notes
  plural

1. a written promise to pay a specified sum of money to a designated person, or to the bearer of the note, at a fixed time or on demand.

2. a written promise to do or provide something, usually presented as a gift and claimable when or however the recipient chooses.

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promissory note British  

noun

1. Also called: note, note of hand. commerce a document, usually negotiable, containing a signed promise to pay a stated sum of money to a specified person at a designated date or on demand

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• promissory notes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of promissory note

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

promissory note

Martin Luther King Jr. famously talked about the Constitution as a promissory note that reflected the aspirations of this nation, not necessarily who this nation was at a given moment.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2026

The purchase will be funded with $20 million in cash at the deal’s closing and a $100 million promissory note due five years from that time.

From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026

Under what the lawsuit says was “immense pressure,” Kwatra signed a statement and a promissory note agreeing to repay the amount.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026

All they needed to do was have their case manager submit a promissory note committing to pay the rent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2022

Keep Levin's promissory note in readiness, so that it can be submitted to his head office at any time.

From The Red Room by August Strindberg