currency

American  

[kur-uhn-see, kuhr-] / ˈkɜr ən si, ˈkʌr- /

noun

• currencies
  plural

1. something that is used as a medium of exchange; money.

2. general acceptance; prevalence; vogue.

3. a time or period during which something is widely accepted and circulated.

4. the fact or quality of being widely accepted and circulated from person to person.

5. circulation, as of coin.

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currency British  

/ ˈkʌrənsɪ /

noun

1. a metal or paper medium of exchange that is in current use in a particular country

2. general acceptance or circulation; prevalence

   the currency of ideas

3. the period of time during which something is valid, accepted, or in force

4. the act of being passed from person to person

5. (formerly) the local medium of exchange, esp in the colonies, as distinct from sterling

6. slang

   1. (formerly) the native-born Australians, as distinct from the British immigrants

   2. ( as modifier )

      a currency lad

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currency Cultural  

1. Any form of money in actual use as a medium of exchange.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• currencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of currency

From the Medieval Latin word currentia, dating back to 1650–60. See current, -ency

Explanation

Currency is the paper and coin money that a country uses to conduct business. The United States uses a currency that's made up of dollars, quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies. Just about every country has its own currency — the money its people use to pay for their groceries, clothes, and other goods. Paper currency in the United States is all green and can confuse people who use bills with different colors for different denominations. In addition to describing a country's monetary system, currency means something that is accepted or used. The slang word "daddy-o" was the currency in the 1950s, but people who say it today can expect to receive strange looks.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

currency currencies

How the cats go shopping, or with what currency, is not revealed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

While International Monetary Fund data show that the dollar’s share of official foreign currency reserves has shrunk over the past 20 years, in more recent years, the process has flatlined.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

After all, fancams - zoomed-in videos focusing on a single celebrity - are a prized currency in K-pop communities.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Its original purpose was to generate revenue for the Revolutionary Armed Forces and bring in hard currency during the island's "Special Period," a profound crisis in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

The whispered rumors now gained currency: the Space Task Group’s time in Hampton was coming to an end.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Despite widespread predictions at the beginning of the year that the dollar would significantly decline in value against foreign currencies, the U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Finance officials from both sides signaled readiness to intervene further if needed but the yen remains historically weak against the dollar and a broader basket of currencies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Moreover, the only currencies that have seen their share of reserves meaningfully grow over the past couple of years are smaller rivals belonging to the IMF’s “other currencies” category.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

In common with other Asian currencies, such as the Korean won and Indian rupee, the yen has also been struggling as capital races to the U.S. in search of higher returns from the artificial-intelligence boom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

I started the ponderous conversion between currencies, then smiled as I realized it was unnecessary.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• cash