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Definition of shekel

shekel

/ˈʃɛk.əl/
shek · el
Plural:shekels
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shekel Lexical Profile

shekel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The standard monetary unit and official currency of modern Israel.

Example

"Before traveling to Tel Aviv, she exchanged her dollars for Israeli shekels at the airport bank."

2

An ancient Mesopotamian and Hebrew unit of weight, or a silver or gold coin equal to this weight.

Example

"Archaeologists uncovered a clay jar containing several silver shekels dating back to the Second Temple period."

3

Money, cash, or personal wealth (typically used in the plural in informal contexts).

Example

"He took on a weekend job to earn a few extra shekels for his summer vacation."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shekel

• Rhymes for shekel

• Nearby Words

sheik
sheikh
sheila
shekel
sheksna
shelduck
shelf

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew sheqel, derived from the Semitic root sh-q-l meaning 'to weigh,' as ancient transactions relied on weighing uncoined silver and gold before standardized coinage existed.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shekel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shekel
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