1. An indirect
contribution to a political campaign. Soft money is
money raised for political activities in favor of or opposed to a certain candidate or issue that stops short of actually endorsing anything. In other words, any ad stopping short of asking for a vote for or against someone or something is funded by soft money. Colloquially, soft money connotes large amounts donated by special interest groups for these purposes. The
McCain-Feingold Act forbade political parties and some other organizations from raising soft money, but most organizations can still do so.
2. See:
Fiat money.