dubious funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe money or financial resources that are questionable in terms of their origin or legitimacy. Example: "The investigation revealed that the charity was receiving dubious funds from unknown sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Shapiro was involved in providing dubious funds to athletes and the university's sporting set-up for eight years.

Independent

The companies appeared to be serving as fronts for Hezbollah to move all sorts of dubious funds, on its own behalf or for others.

The New York Times

Legal authorities considered it a serious setback to their efforts to give an unequivocal signal that Geneva is no longer a haven for dubious funds.

The New York Times

Held mainly by Shiite businessmen in West Africa, the companies appeared to be fronts for Hezbollah to move dubious funds, for itself or others, and to mask Hezbollah's involvement in transactions.

The New York Times

For London's historic place at the heart of the empire has endowed it with the networks and skills, from the Square Mile to Caribbean tax havens, to become one of the world's leading hubs for the dispersal and camouflaging of dubious funds.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

An editorial in The Asian Age said, "With pressure mounting on the B.J.P. and its chief, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, after reports about dubious funding of his trust, talk has begun in the saffron party about who will succeed Mr. Gadkari in case he has to step down and is not allowed a second term as party president".

The New York Times

But unlike Mrs. Clinton's trouble with the former fund-raiser Norman Hsu — whose extensive legal problems and dubious fund-raising practices came as a surprise — her campaign identified the concerns about the Chinatown fund-raising on its own, campaign officials said.

The New York Times

Besides the late Mr. Stans, other former officials in the department have faced accusations of dubious fund-raising, including John Huang, the former Democratic National Committee official who raised millions of dollars for the Democratic Party after leaving commerce, including large offshore checks that had to be returned to contributors because the party could not verify the source of the money.

The New York Times

Rob Carthy, Bromley The opposition to Acta centres around the bureaucratic imperative of NGOs of dubious funding sources that are used to bullying creators in Geneva, and who have been excluded from the Acta negotiation process at the drafting stage (Newly asked questions, 12 November).

The Guardian - Tech

In one case, an advocacy group recommended that pregnant women exceed federal fish consumption guidelines, but that group has subsequently been found to have dubious funding sources (Couzin 2007).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Dubious assistance funds?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious funds", clarify the reason for the doubt. Specify whether the concern lies with the source, intended use, or handling of the money.

Common error

Don't label funds as "dubious" without providing any supporting evidence or context. This can lead to misunderstanding or even legal issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious funds" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "dubious" modifies the noun "funds". It describes a specific type of financial resource characterized by uncertainty or suspicion. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dubious funds" describes financial resources of questionable origin or legitimacy. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for formal use, particularly in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "questionable funds" or "suspect funds" exist, "dubious funds" offers a nuanced way to express skepticism without making definitive accusations. Remember to provide context when using this phrase to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable funds

Replaces "dubious" with a more direct synonym, focusing on uncertainty about the funds' legitimacy.

suspect funds

Emphasizes the potentially illegal or unethical nature of the funds.

illicit funds

Indicates the funds were obtained illegally or are being used for illegal purposes.

shady funds

An informal term implying dishonesty or illegality associated with the funds.

laundered funds

Specifies that the funds have been processed to conceal their illegal origin.

tainted funds

Suggests the funds have been compromised or corrupted by unethical or illegal activities.

dodgy funds

British English slang for funds that are potentially unreliable or illegal.

irregular funds

Focuses on the deviation from standard financial procedures or regulations.

fishy funds

An informal term conveying suspicion about the funds' origin or purpose.

unofficial funds

Suggests the funds are not part of the official or declared financial records.

FAQs

What does "dubious funds" mean?

The phrase "dubious funds" refers to money or financial resources whose origin, legitimacy, or intended use is questionable or suspect.

What can I say instead of "dubious funds"?

You can use alternatives like "questionable funds", "suspect funds", or "shady funds" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "dubious funds" in formal writing?

Yes, "dubious funds" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in news reports or investigative journalism. However, avoid overly informal synonyms like "fishy funds" in such contexts.

What's the difference between "dubious funds" and "illegal funds"?

"Dubious funds" implies suspicion or uncertainty, while "illegal funds" definitively states that the funds were obtained or used unlawfully. The former requires further investigation to confirm illegality.