half dollar

noun

1. a silver or cupronickel coin of the U.S., equal to 50 cents.

2. a silver or nickel coin of Canada, equal to 50 cents.

half-dollar

noun

1. (in the US) a 50-cent piece

Word History and Origins

Origin of half dollar¹

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

On one hand, the California Air Resources Board is quietly on the verge of adopting a regulation that could make pump prices soar by nearly a half-dollar a gallon — or even much more — as detailed in a Times story by reporter Russ Mitchell.

From Los Angeles Times

As Gov. Gavin Newsom wages a high-profile campaign to prevent sudden spikes in gasoline prices, California air regulators are quietly pushing through a policy change of their own that could raise pump prices by almost a half-dollar a gallon or more.

From Los Angeles Times

A pack of four AirTag tracking devices cost $80 and are about the size of a half-dollar coin.

From Los Angeles Times

The half-dollar boost resulted from a 2016 law that mandated inflation-related adjustments.

From Los Angeles Times

The bees collected range in size from no bigger than the head of a pin to roughly the size of a half-dollar.

From Washington Times