Meaning & use
travellers cheque
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableBritishfinance
a piece of paper bought from a bank that can be used as money when traveling, with a signature to prove it belongs to you.
Grammar: Countable; plural 'travellers cheques'. Often written with an apostrophe: 'traveller's cheque'.
Patterns
- buy travellers cheques
- exchange travellers cheques
- pay in travellers cheques
You can buy travellers cheques at the post office.
She paid for the hotel with travellers cheques.
Travellers cheques are safer than cash because they can be replaced if lost.
Word forms
| plural | travellers cheques |
|---|
Common combinations
- buy travellers cheques
- We bought travellers cheques before our holiday.
- accept travellers cheques
- The restaurant does not accept travellers cheques.
- cash travellers cheques
- You can cash travellers cheques at the bank.
- travellers cheque exchange rate
- The travellers cheque exchange rate was better than for cash.
Synonyms and how they differ
- traveller's check
- The American spelling; the meaning is the same.
- banker's draft
- A secure payment from a bank, but not specifically for travelers and not usually replaceable if lost.
Word family
- traveller noun
- A person who travels.
- cheque noun
- A written order to a bank to pay money; American spelling 'check'.
Commonly confused: travellers cheque or travel cheque?
travellers cheque vs travel cheque
Not a standard term; the usual phrase is 'travellers cheque' or 'traveller's cheque'.
Practice
Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
Choose one answer.
The British spelling is 'travellers cheques' (or 'traveller's cheques'). Option 1 uses American 'checks'. Option 2 uses American 'checks' and wrong apostrophe. Option 3 uses American spelling 'travelers' and no apostrophe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “travellers cheque”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.