Ways and Means
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A parliamentary term, meaning the method of raising the supply of money for the current requirements of the state.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Ways and Means” mean?
A parliamentary term, meaning the method of raising the supply of money for the current requirements of the state.
Is “Ways and Means” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.