wallet

wallet — noun

1. a small flat pocket accessory, usually made from leather or similar material, th

1.nounA2
Definition

a small flat pocket accessory, usually made from leather or similar material, that a person keeps in a trouser or jacket pocket to hold cash, payment cards, identification, and other thin belongings. It is most common among men.

Example

Theo always keeps his wallet in his back pocket when he goes out.

typical position: back pocket

Rafael took out his worn leather wallet and paid for the meal in cash.

Common collocations
  • leather wallet
  • slim wallet
  • bifold wallet
  • wallet in pocket
Synonyms
  • billfold

    North American term for a wallet that primarily holds paper money; slightly less common in everyday speech.

  • pocketbook

    Used in some US regions (especially the South) to mean a wallet, though in other dialects it refers to a handbag.

Usage Note

Frequently used with possessive pronouns (my wallet, his wallet) and location phrases (in your wallet, out of your wallet). The size and shape are designed to fit comfortably into a trouser, shirt, or jacket pocket without creating a visible bulge.

Common Mistakes

I left my purse at home' (when you mean a men's billfold).
I left my wallet at home.
In American English, 'purse' means a woman's handbag, not a wallet. In British English, 'purse' is a small coin pouch.

2. a small bag or pouch that a woman stores inside her handbag and that holds coins

2.nounB1
Definition

a small bag or pouch that a woman stores inside her handbag and that holds coins, paper money, credit cards, and small personal items such as lipstick.

Example

Dewi keeps her coins in a separate wallet inside her handbag so they do not fall out.

location: inside handbag

Saira bought a small red wallet with a zip around the top to hold her bills safely.

feature: zip-around closure

Common collocations
  • zip-around wallet
  • wristlet wallet
  • evening wallet
  • inside handbag
Synonyms
  • coin purse

    Smaller and focused on coins; often has a clasp or zip closure.

  • clutch wallet

    A larger style of women's wallet that can be carried on its own, without a handbag.

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 by context: sense 2 wallets are carried inside a handbag, not in a pocket, and are typically owned by women. This sense overlaps with 'purse' in British English (a small container for coins) but 'purse' in American English means handbag. Taiwan learners often use 'purse' incorrectly for this sense.

Common Mistakes

She put her wallet in her pocket' (a woman's full-size wallet usually does not fit in a pocket).
She put her wallet in her handbag.
Sense 2 items are designed for handbag storage, not pocket carry.

3. a flat folding pouch designed for carrying and protecting important documents su

3.nounB1
Definition

a flat folding pouch designed for carrying and protecting important documents such as passports, identity cards, or travel papers. It is typically constructed from materials like leather, plastic, or sturdy card.

Example

Rin placed her passport and boarding pass into a blue document wallet before heading to the airport.

purpose: travel document organization

Élise bought a clear plastic wallet to keep her medical forms dry in case of rain.

Common collocations
  • travel wallet
  • document wallet
  • passport wallet
  • plastic wallet
Synonyms

Usage Note

This sense overlaps semantically with 'folder' but typically implies a slim, portable item for travel or daily carrying. In British English, 'wallet' is the preferred term; in American English, 'travel document holder' or 'passport holder' is more common to avoid confusion with sense 1.

Common Mistakes

I put my document wallet in my back pocket' (document wallets are usually too large for pocket carry).
I put my document wallet in my carry-on bag.
Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense refers to a larger flat case not designed for pocket storage.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Wallet is the most general term for a folding case that holds paper money and cards and is carried in a pocket. Billfold is a North American synonym that emphasizes the section for paper money; it is less common in everyday British or Australian speech. Purse can cause confusion across dialects: in American English it means a woman's handbag (not a wallet), while in British English it refers to a small coin pouch. Money clip is different in form — it is a metal clip that holds folded banknotes without enclosing cards or coins. For a Taiwanese learner, wallet is the safest neutral choice for sense 1. If you want to specify a man's pocket wallet, just say 'wallet'. If you are referring to the small container women carry inside a handbag, use 'purse' in British English or 'wallet' (sense 2) for clarity.

wallet ↗billfoldpurse ↗money clip

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pull out your wallet
  • take out your wallet
  • reach for your wallet
  • put something in your wallet
  • open your wallet
  • close your wallet

Prepositions

  • in your wallet
  • out of your wallet
  • from your wallet

Etymology

Old North FrenchProto-GermanicEnglish

The word 'wallet' entered English around the 1300s from the Old North French term 'walet', meaning a bag or knapsack for travelers. It was originally a sturdy bag for carrying provisions and personal items on a journey. Over the centuries, the meaning narrowed from a traveling bag to a smaller case for money and documents, and eventually to the pocket-sized item we know today. The modern sense of a flat folding money-holder became common in the 1800s as paper currency and credit cards became widespread.