filthy lucre

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filthy lucre

/ˌfɪlθi ˈl(j)uːkə/ UK
/ˌfɪlθi ˈlukəɹ/ US

Rhymes with -uːkə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From filthy + lucre, which appears in the Tyndale Bible, and four times in the King James Version of the Bible, as a calque of Ancient Greek αἰσχρόν κέρδος (aiskhrón kérdos) and related terms such as αἰσχροκερδής (aiskhrokerdḗs, “[a person] given to filthy lucre”): see the quotations and Citations:filthy lucre.

noun

derogatory, humorous, idiomatic, often, uncountable, in modern use Money, especially if obtained dishonestly. For there are many diſobedient and talkers off vanitie⸝ and diſceavers off myndes⸝ namly they off the circumciſion⸝ whoſe mouthes muſt be ſtopped⸝ which pervert whole houſes⸝ teachynge thyngꝭ [thynges] which they ought nott⸝ becauſe off filthy lucre.
Similar: dirty money, lucre

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MLA

"filthy lucre." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/filthy%20lucre. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

filthy lucre. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/filthy%20lucre

Chicago

"filthy lucre." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/filthy%20lucre.

BibTeX

@misc{filthy_lucre_2026,
  title = {filthy lucre},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/filthy%20lucre},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}