obol

noun

ˈä-bəl How to pronounce obol (audio) ˈō- How to pronounce obol (audio)
: an ancient Greek coin or weight equal to ⅙ drachma

Examples of obol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Charon’s obol is a term for a coin, typically placed in the mouth of a dead person before burial. — Fox News, 30 June 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin obolus, borrowed from Greek obolós, obelós — more at obelus

Note: The word is attested once in Old English, but there is no continuity between this occurrence and later learned use in Modern English.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obol was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

oboist
obol
obole
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Cite this Entry

“Obol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obol. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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