IOU

or I.O.U.

1. a written acknowledgment of a debt, especially an informal one consisting only of the letters IOU, the sum owed, and the debtor's signature.

IOU

noun

1. a written promise or reminder to pay a debt

IOU

1. Abbreviation for “I owe you.” An IOU is a written statement of a borrower's obligation to pay a debt .

Word History and Origins

Origin of IOU¹

First recorded in 1610–20; representing I owe you

Word History and Origins

Origin of IOU¹

C17: representing I owe you

Example Sentences

It said it had managed to reach an agreement with IOU, but not Unite.

From BBC

Since I can’t afford to buy Dad that engraved picture frame until Mrs. Gilbert can afford to pay me, I decide to give him a handmade IOU.

From Literature

In their place, investigators said that they found "'IOU' slips in empty boxes marked to indicate a customer's account, yet containing no assets."

From BBC

When a government wants to borrow money, it issues a bond or an IOU.

From BBC

Because these are retirement accounts, no one is harmed by the government equivalent of an IOU.

From Seattle Times