bill
bill
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:
bill /bɪl/
bil: /b/ - /ɪ/ - /l/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bill
Plural Noun: bills
Verb (base form): bill
Verb (third-person singular present): bills
Verb (present participle): billing
Verb (past tense/past participle): billed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A formal statement of money owed for goods or services supplied.
Synonyms: invoice, statement, account, charge
Antonyms: payment, receipt (in the context of having paid)
Definition 2: A proposed law presented to a legislature but not yet enacted.
Synonyms: draft, proposal, measure, act (once passed)
Antonyms: law (once passed and enacted), statute
Definition 3: A piece of paper money.
Synonyms: banknote, note, currency, paper money
Antonyms: coin, change
Definition 4: The beak of a bird.
Synonyms: beak, rostrum, neb (archaic)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific anatomical part)
Definition 5: A poster or handbill advertising something.
Synonyms: poster, flyer, leaflet, handbill, advertisement
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition 1: To send a statement of money owed for goods or services.
Synonyms: invoice, charge, debit
Antonyms: pay, credit
Definition 2: To advertise or promote something, especially by means of posters.
Synonyms: publicize, promote, advertise, trumpet
Antonyms: conceal, hide, suppress
Examples of Use
Books:
"He carefully reviewed the phone bill, line by line, looking for any discrepancies." (From a contemporary novel, specific title not provided for general example)
"The historic Bill of Rights continues to be a cornerstone of American law and civil liberties." (From a textbook on U.S. history, e.g., Give Me Liberty!: An American History by Eric Foner, 2004)
Newspapers:
"Lawmakers are debating a new bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions, facing stiff opposition from certain industries." (The New York Times)
"The restaurant industry is urging the public to 'round up their bill' to support local charities affected by the economic downturn." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Why Your Electricity Bill Might Be Higher This Summer" (NPR.org)
"Congress Passes Infrastructure Bill, Sending It to President's Desk" (Politico.com)
"How to Dispute an Incorrect Medical Bill and Protect Your Credit" (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (News/Drama): "Breaking News: The new health care bill has just passed a crucial vote in the Senate." (Heard on a major news network broadcast, e.g., CNN)
Music (Song Lyrics): "I got a hundred dollar bill in my pocket, ready to spend." (From a popular song lyric, specific song not cited for general example)
Movies: "He was always paying the bill for everyone, a true generous spirit." (Dialogue from a romantic comedy film, general example)
Podcasts: "Our next guest will discuss the implications of the proposed housing bill on urban development." (From a public affairs podcast, e.g., NPR's Up First, May 2024)
Video Games: "Your total bill for repairs is 500 gold coins." (Text from an in-game message, typical of RPGs)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you spot me some cash? I'm a bit short for the dinner bill." (Common conversational phrase)
"Don't forget to pay your utility bills on time, or you'll get hit with late fees." (Advice given among friends/family)
"The duck with the orange bill is my favorite." (Observation made during a visit to a park or zoo)
"They're going to bill us for the extra services we didn't authorize." (Complaint among consumers)
10 Quotes Using Bill
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." (Thomas Jefferson)
"But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy." (Nancy Pelosi)
"The next Bill Gates will not start an operating system." (Peter Thiel)
"Wars are not paid for in wartime, the bill comes later." (Benjamin Franklin)
"My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more." (Walter Matthau)
"There are only three ways to meet the unpaid bills of a nation: The first is taxation. The second is repudiation. The third is inflation." (Herbert Hoover)
"I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay for her bills, a woman who could run her own life - and I became that woman." (Diane von Furstenberg)
"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." (Frank Zappa)
"Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills." (Minna Antrim)
"The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities, and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts." (Robert H. Jackson)
Etymology
The word "bill" has a surprisingly rich history with several different origins, which is why it has so many distinct meanings today.
One major root of "bill" comes from the Latin word "bulla," which originally meant a "bubble" or a "seal." From this, it evolved into meaning a sealed document. This is where we get the sense of a written document, like a "legislative bill" (a proposed law), a "handbill" (a printed advertisement), or an "invoice or financial bill." The earliest known use of "bill" in this sense of a written document or legal decree dates back to the 13th century. For example, a bill of complaint in law or a public proclamation.
Another separate origin for "bill" comes from the Old English word "bile," which referred to a bird's beak. This is a much older word, appearing in English before the Norman Conquest. This "bile" evolved into the modern "bird's bill."
So, in simple terms:
Bill (as in a document, law, or money owed): Comes from an old Latin word for "seal" or "document," because these things were often sealed. The first known uses in English for this meaning were around the 1200s, referring to legal documents or written declarations.
Bill (as in a bird's beak): Comes from a very old English word for a beak. This meaning is much older in the language.
It's a great example of how words can have different "ancestors" and develop multiple distinct meanings over time!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bill
Foot the bill: To pay for something, especially something expensive.
Fill the bill: To be exactly what is needed or suitable for a particular purpose.
Clean bill of health: A certification or report indicating that someone or something is in good condition or healthy.
Big Bill: (Less common, but can refer to a large denomination of currency, e.g., "a big bill" for a hundred-dollar note).
Bill of goods: A deception or swindle, often in the phrase "sell someone a bill of goods."
Bill of fare: A menu in a restaurant.
Bill of lading: A detailed list of a ship's cargo.
Square the bill: To settle an account or pay what is owed.
A raw deal (using a synonym for "bill" as in "deal"): An unfair or harsh treatment.
The whole kit and caboodle (using a synonym for "bill" as in a "list of items"): Everything; the entire collection.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bill from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
