Treasury bill

American  

Or treasury bill

noun

1. an obligation of the U.S. government represented by promissory notes in denominations ranging from $1000 to $1,000,000, with a maturity of about 90 days but bearing no interest, and sold periodically at a discount on the market.

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Treasury bill British  

noun

1. a short-term noninterest-bearing obligation issued by the Treasury, payable to bearer and maturing usually in three months, within which it is tradable on a discount basis on the open market

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Etymology

Origin of Treasury bill

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Treasury should make a trade — the Fed would send its $2 trillion portfolio of mortgage-backed securities to the Treasury, in return for an equal value in Treasury bills.

From MarketWatch

The central bank started purchasing short-term U.S. debt or Treasury bills last month, and its balance sheet is noticeably expanding for the first time since 2022, outside the run-up seen in 2023 to rescue banks.

From Barron's

The central bank started purchasing short-term U.S. debt or Treasury bills last month, and its balance sheet is noticeably expanding for the first time since 2022, outside the run-up seen in 2023 to rescue banks.

From Barron's

It refers to the rate charged on overnight money, and it feeds through to things like the three-month yield on Treasury bills.

From MarketWatch

It will also tend to keep prices of Treasury bills elevated, meaning yields will be lower.

From Barron's