shekel

American  

[shek-uhl] / ˈʃɛk əl /

noun

1. Also sheqel a paper money, cupronickel or silver coin, and monetary unit of Israel equal to 100 agorot: replaced the pound in 1980.

2. an ancient, originally Babylonian, unit of weight, of varying value, taken as equal to the fiftieth or the sixtieth part of a mina or to about a quarter to half an ounce.

3. a coin of this weight, especially the chief silver coin of the ancient Hebrews.

4. Slang. shekels, money; cash.

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shekel British  

/ ˈʃɛkəl /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of modern Israel, divided into 100 agorot

2. any of several former coins and units of weight of the Near East

3. informal (often plural) any coin or money

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Etymology

Origin of shekel

First recorded in 1550–60, shekel is from the Hebrew word sheqel

Example Sentences

The U.S. dollar weakened and was at a 30-year-low against the Israeli shekel , as representatives of the Israeli and Lebanese governments are set to meet in Washington on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Right now, the shekel is quite strong: 1 Israeli New Shekel is equal to $0.31 U.S. dollars.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 22, 2025

The Israeli new shekel is used throughout the Palestinian territories.

From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025

Gaza, like other Palestinian territories, uses the shekel as its primary currency, with some transactions done in U.S. dollars or the Jordanian Dinar.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

I therefore sent to my own beloved ‘a golden ear-ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold.’

From The Thistle and the Cedar of Lebanon by Risk Allah, Habeeb