lucre

noun

lu·​cre ˈlü-kər How to pronounce lucre (audio)
Synonyms of lucre
: monetary gain : profit
wrote almost entirely for lucre
also : money

Synonyms of lucre

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Examples of lucre in a Sentence

foreign coins are not acceptable lucre in most vending machines in this country
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stanley dealers were not in cutthroat competition for filthy lucre. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026 At investment banks, such lucre may not be quite as abundant as when formal training programs were set up as a gateway into private partnerships. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 June 2024 Rosamund Pike, playing the spirit of loving filthy lucre over life itself, elevates a standard villain through the high timing of her theatrical hauteur. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025 Medieval Money celebrates the lucre that made the Morgan Library possible. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lucre

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin lucrum "material gain, profit," going back to Indo-European *lh2u-tló- "seizure, gain," from *leh2u- "seize, capture" + *-tlo-, noun suffix, typically of instruments; *leh2u- also in Greek apolaúein "to benefit (from), have pleasure or enjoyment," leíā, Doric lāíā "plunder, spoil," Germanic *launa- "recompense, reward" (see guerdon)

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lucre was in the 14th century

Rhymes for lucre

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Browse Nearby Words

lucrative succession
lucre
Lucretian
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Cite this Entry

“Lucre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lucre. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lucre

noun
lu·​cre ˈlü-kər How to pronounce lucre (audio)
: gain in money : profit
also : money sense 1a
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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