bankroll

American  

[bangk-rohl] / ˈbæŋkˌroʊl /

noun

1. money in one's possession; monetary resources.

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to finance; provide funds for.

   to bankroll a new play.

bankroll British  

/ ˈbæŋkˌrəʊl /

noun

1. a roll of currency notes

2. the financial resources of a person, organization, etc

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verb

1. slang (tr) to provide the capital for; finance

Other Word Forms

• bankroller noun

Etymology

Origin of bankroll

First recorded in 1885–90; bank ² + roll

Example Sentences

Big Tech has the balance sheets and the electricity addiction to bankroll what the U.S. government has spent 50 years failing to do.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Overseas Nepali workers bankroll their families and buttress the economy, making them a key constituency in elections next week -- but they cannot vote themselves.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Mahan has already elicited early support among wealthy venture capitalists and tech industry leaders, who would be able to bankroll a formidable campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Back in 2015, a $200 bankroll could be neatly divided into 40 different wagers.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2025

I decided against it, though, since, unless one has a large bankroll, the rate at which one wins money is too slow to be worth the time and intense concentration required.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• finance
• subsidize