of, relating to, or noting British money.
The sterling equivalent is #5.50.
(of silver) having the standard fineness of 0.925.
made of silver of this fineness.
a sterling teapot.
thoroughly excellent.
a man of sterling worth.
British currency.
the standard of fineness for gold and silver coin in the United Kingdom, 0.91666 for gold and 0.500 for silver.
Also called sterling silver. silver having a fineness of 0.925, now used especially in the manufacture of table utensils, jewelry, etc.
manufactured articles of sterling silver.
sterling flatware.
a city in NW Illinois.
a city in NE Colorado.
a male given name.
British money
pound sterling
( as modifier )
sterling reserves
the official standard of fineness of British coins: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925
short for sterling silver
( as modifier )
a sterling bracelet
an article or articles manufactured from sterling silver
a former British silver penny
1250–1300; Middle English: name of a silver coin ( see star, -ling 1), with reference to the little star on some of the mintages
Sterling is British money, but it also describes anything of very high quality. A sterling report card has all A’s, and sterling manners are needed for a visit with the Queen of England. Sterling is a word for British currency, and although the jury is still out, the word sterling may be from the Middle English word for "star," sterre from the stars that appeared in the design of certain Norman (really old British) coins. Sterling can still refer to money, but it also describes something great. A sterling reputation is a flawless, immaculate reputation.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
State Rep. James Talarico is a young political leader with a sterling reputation for honesty and integrity, a Bible-believing Christian whose campaign is a test of whether voters still care about those values.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
The LP’s success rested on sterling session musicians, Tavares’s jubilant vocals and Perren’s stewardship.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
They had previously considered other plaintiffs — including fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin — and ultimately concluded that Parks, a mature, married woman of sterling reputation, would present more effectively to white juries and the white press.
From Salon • May 20, 2026
Against a stronger dollar, sterling fell 0.1% to $1.3525.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Now she is clearing away my crumbs with the sterling silver scraper I gave to Elizabeth and Raleigh for their wedding.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
