Definition

A metric unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms—what Europeans call a ton when they're being pedantic about the distinction. It's the weight-watchers' way of saying 'really heavy' without using those pesky American pounds. Also slang for a cricket century when you're feeling particularly British.

Example Usage

The shipment weighed 50 tonnes, making the logistics coordinator simultaneously impressed and concerned about the warehouse floor.

Source: International System of Units (SI); Common industrial terminology

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return

The financial payoff that makes investors stop asking uncomfortable questions—usually expressed as a percentage gain on their initial investment. It's the difference between what you put in and what you got out, presented with either champagne-worthy enthusiasm or soul-crushing regret. When your startup finally exits or your portfolio generates profits, those returns are what get bragged about at networking events.

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Intermediate

commodity

Basic goods traded in bulk markets where one unit is virtually identical to another—think oil, wheat, gold, or coffee beans before they get a fancy name at Starbucks. These fungible raw materials are bought and sold on specialized exchanges where traders gamble on price fluctuations. It's where agricultural products and natural resources become abstract financial instruments.

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Hedge

An investment made to offset potential losses in another investment, which is basically placing a bet that your other bet might be wrong. It's the financial equivalent of bringing both sunscreen and an umbrella because you have zero faith in the weather forecast.

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Advanced

pari passu

Latin for 'equal footing,' meaning creditors or securities rank equally in priority for payment. If the ship sinks, you all go down together—very democratic, if not particularly comforting.

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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

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See “tonnes” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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