What does cashable mean?
Cashable is an adjective used to describe something — most often a check, bond, voucher, or similar financial document — that can be converted into actual money. A cashable check is one a bank will honor and pay out; a non-cashable coupon or expired ticket cannot be redeemed for funds. The word appears most frequently in banking, legal, gambling, and consumer-rewards contexts, where the distinction between what is cashable and what merely looks valuable can carry real consequences. It is generally neutral to slightly formal in register and is usually placed directly before the noun it modifies, as in 'cashable bonds' or 'cashable winnings'. Formed from the everyday noun and verb 'cash' with the productive suffix '-able', it transparently signals capability: whatever it describes is capable of becoming spendable currency.
adjective(Of a check, bond, voucher, or other financial instrument) able to be exchanged for money; convertible into cash.
- (Of a check, bond, ticket, or similar instrument) able to be converted into money; redeemable for its face value.
- (Of a reward, bonus, or points) eligible to be redeemed or withdrawn as money rather than credit or goods.
"The prize was awarded in the form of a cashable check."
"Make sure the check is cashable before you leave the bank."
"The airline miles were generous, but only a small portion were cashable as actual currency."
That lottery ticket you're clutching? Only some are actually cashable — and the fine print decides which.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cashable
Cashable combines the noun/verb 'cash' with the suffix '-able', meaning 'capable of being'. The word 'cash' itself entered English in the late 16th century from Middle French 'caisse' ('money box'), ultimately from Latin 'capsa' ('box'). As a result, cashable shares deep roots with words like 'case', 'capsule', and 'encase', all descended from that Latin term for a container. The adjective arose naturally in English commercial language as checks and negotiable instruments became widespread.
Related word forms
How cashable is actually used
Chiefly used in banking, finance, gambling, and rewards-program contexts. The verb it derives from, 'cash', is far more common; 'cashable' typically appears attributively before a noun (a cashable check) rather than predicatively. In British English, 'encashable' is an occasional variant.
Easily confused with cashable
'Cachable' (often 'cacheable') relates to storing data in a cache for faster access, whereas 'cashable' refers to being exchangeable for money.