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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of Treasury bill

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

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

From Barron's

The Federal Reserve’s Treasury bill purchases are seen as quantitative easing, keeping market yields lower into the first half of 2026.

From Barron's

The Federal Reserve’s Treasury bill purchases are seen as quantitative easing, keeping market yields lower into the first half of 2026.

From Barron's

The Fed’s plan to start buying $40 billion of Treasury bills per month beginning Friday, which it announced after the end of its policy meeting on Wednesday, was widely seen as a liquidity injection.

From MarketWatch

Gundlach made the point that the Fed announcing it will buy Treasury bills was not quantitative easing, but moves the central bank in that direction.

From MarketWatch