English

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Etymology

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From cash +‎ -less.

Adjective

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cashless (comparative more cashless, superlative most cashless)

  1. Operating without the need for cash, such as by accepting nondigital, noncash forms of payment (e.g., chit, cheques, money orders) or (in the 21st century, usually) using digital payment methods (e-payment).
    Synonym: noncash
    Hypernym: contactless
    cashless payment system
    cashless restaurant
    • 1998, Danny Kruger, Access Denied?: Preventing Information Exclusion:
      The benefits and dangers of the cashless society will become more apparent over the next decade . . .
    • 2005, Jane R. Hogan, M. W. Daly, Images of Empire: Photographic Sources for the British in the Sudan:
      It demanded taxes, which in a cashless society meant grain, cattle and, most tellingly, labor.
    • 2019 August 12, Jay Stanley, “Say No to the “Cashless Future” — and to Cashless Stores”, in ACLU[1]:
      The rise of cashless establishments is happening amid continuing hype over the supposed dawn of a “cashless future” and agitation by some very powerful interests that would love to see cash disappear. The credit card companies love it, naturally, and tech industry associations have also pushed for the concept.
  2. (uncommon, dated) Having no money.
    Synonyms: moneyless, penniless
    • 1853, The Knickerbocker: Or, New-York Monthly Magazine:
      They were the same winged messengers that out-run cashless debtors, and cut short lovers' dreams.
    • 1858, William Bownas, Arundines Bostonienses, page 85:
      When calls are made on cashless penceless men,
      The case is wonderfully altered then!

Derived terms

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Translations

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