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Definitions

IOU

NOUN
promissory note
Synonyms


I.O.U.
NOUN
debenture
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Essentially, you borrow from the account and create an IOU to yourself.

From MarketWatch Jan. 14, 2026

Credit is the promise to pay money, an IOU.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 12, 2025

If the IOU isn’t redeemed in good time, the players have a problem.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 6, 2025

A bond is essentially an IOU - in return for an investor buying the bond and lending money, governments pay interest.

From BBC Apr. 18, 2025

It seemed small of me to be so unhappy when he’d done so much for me, but the IOU had been a bitter surprise.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Then there were my friends who were saying, “Yeah I’ll loan you money on an I.O.U., but I don’t have that much money.”

From New York Times Mar. 18, 2023

Her contributions are a gift, not fulfillment of an I.O.U.

From Slate Feb. 17, 2022

He bought homes for poor families and carried in his wallet a $1,500 I.O.U. from Ralph Guldahl, to whom Sam had staked a loan when Guldahl was struggling.

From Golf Digest Jul. 8, 2019

At his office, Tomlin talked me through part of his reading of the London I.O.U., drawing, as if unconsciously, on a scrap of paper as he did so.

From The New Yorker May 1, 2017

Also, an I.O.U. for the new Luis Alberti record when we next go to the capital.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez




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