black money

Meanings

nounblack money (uncountable)

uncountableIncome that is not reported to a government in order to evade taxes.
Synonyms: dirty money
IndiauncountableMoney that is obtained illegally, especially that which circulates outside the formal financial system in the underworld.First known use 19th c.
In India, the government faces the issue of combating black money stashed overseas.
2 more examples
Demonetization — or the withdrawal from use — was one of a package of measures recommended by a Government committee that investigated the problem of “black money” — money acquired through illegal transactions and kept hidden from tax authorities.
1973 August 9, “Demonetization Feared”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
Mr Modi has implemented a flurry of schemes to flush out “black money”, the term Indians use for cash which is both unaccounted for and outside its formal financial system.
2016 November 10, “Taking notes”, in The Economist, →ISSN
Synonyms: dirty money, boodle · Antonyms: white money

nounIncome that is not reported to a government in order to evade taxes.

Similar

nounMoney that is obtained illegally, especially that which circulates outside the formal financial system in the underworld.

Similar

Opposite

Also see

Chinese Mandarin 黑錢 /黑钱

German Schwarzgeld

Hindi काला धन, काला पैसा

Polish brudne pieniądze

Tamil கறுப்புப்பணம், கள்ளப்பணம்

Cite this entry

APA

black money. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/black%20money

MLA

“black money.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/black%20money. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “black money,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/black%20money.