IOU

n. a signed document acknowledging a debt.
Etymology: = I owe you

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noun

an informal debt instrument; representing `I owe you'

• Hypernyms: ↑note, ↑promissory note, ↑note of hand

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\\|ī(ˌ)ō|yü\ noun (-s)

Etymology: from the pronunciation of I owe you

: a paper that has on it the letters IOU and a signature as an acknowledgment of debt, that names a sum of money, and that is sometimes used as the equivalent of a promissory note

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

Also, I.O.U.

[1610-20; repr. I owe you]

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IOU /ī-ō-ūˈ/

noun

A signed slip of paper or other document acknowledging a debt (esp of money) to a specified person, stating the date and nature of the debt

ORIGIN: Pronunciation of I owe you

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IOU UK [ˌaɪ əʊ ˈjuː] US [ˌaɪ oʊ ˈju] noun [countable] [singular IOU plural IOUs] informal

a piece of paper that you sign to say that you owe someone an amount of money. The letters ‘IOU’ sound like the words ‘I owe you’.

Thesaurus: types of written note_hyponym parts of pieces of writing_meronym

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n. a signed document acknowledging a debt

Origin:

late 18th cent.: representing the pronunciation of I owe you

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/ˌaıˌoʊˈjuː/ noun, pl IOUs [count]

informal : a usually written promise to pay a debt

I don't have any cash, so I'll have to give you an IOU.

— often used figuratively

The governor has acquired some political IOUs over the years. [=other people owe the governor political favors]

◇ IOU is from the pronunciation of the phrase “I owe you.”

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IOU [ˌaɪ əʊ ˈjuː] [ˌaɪ oʊ ˈjuː] noun (informal)

a written promise that you will pay sb the money you owe them (a way of writing ‘I owe you’)

•

an IOU for £100

 

Word Origin:

[IOU] late 18th cent.: representing the pronunciation of I owe you.