power of the purse

noun

The control of finances by one group used as a check on the power of another group.

“Congress has the power of the purse and can choose not to pay for a Presidential policy with which they disagree.”

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Meanings

nounpower of the purse (uncountable)
  1. idiomaticuncountablegovernmentThe control of finances by one group used as a check on the power of another group.

    Congress has the power of the purse and can choose not to pay for a Presidential policy with which they disagree.

Cite this entry
APA

power of the purse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20of%20the%20purse

MLA

“power of the purse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20of%20the%20purse. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “power of the purse,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/power%20of%20the%20purse.

Source: power of the purse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.