pocketbook

[ pok-it-book ]

noun

1. handbag ( def 1 ).
2. a person's financial resources or means:

   The price was out of reach of his pocketbook.

3. Also pock·et book. a book, usually paperback, that is small enough to carry in one's coat pocket.
4. British.
   1. a notebook for carrying in one's pocket.
   2. a wallet or billfold.

pocketbook

/ ˈpɒkɪtˌbʊk /

noun

1. a small bag or case for money, papers, etc, carried by a handle or in the pocket
2. modifier concerned with personal finance

   pocketbook issues

Word History and Origins

Origin of pocketbook¹

First recorded in 1610–20; pocket + book

Example Sentences

That shift, experts say, is a sign that the immigrant experience is less of a factor in the diverse Latino population than pocketbook and quality-of-life issues like crime.

From Los Angeles Times

It was an “extraordinary shift,” as pollsters put it, and a sign of the changing views of a Latino population increasingly distanced from the immigrant experience and more focused on pocketbook issues.

From Los Angeles Times

Many Hollywood stars and executives were vocal backers of the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, lending her their endorsements and their pocketbooks after pushing for President Biden to withdraw from the race.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s good for the Dodgers – maybe not so great for my pocketbook. But it’s meaningful, it warms my heart.”

From BBC

The fear is that talk of democracy and freedom is too esoteric and that the last-minute voters will only be moved by pocketbook issues.

From Salon

Related Words

• handbag
• pouch
• purse
• suitcase
• wallet