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

If wins are the only currency, both Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young have three on tour this season, while Wyndham Clark has a regular victory and a US Open.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

It has been Asia's worst-performing currency, according to financial outlet Bloomberg News, shedding around seven percent since the war began.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

“While it is difficult to know for sure how things will pan out, our base case remains for de-escalation over time,” the senior currency analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Indonesia's central bank governor has resigned early as the country battles a weakening currency and other economic woes sparked by the Middle East war, the government said Monday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Radioisotopes would be the currency of a new physics, chemistry, and biology, and Lawrences cyclotron would be the world’s preeminent mint.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Asian currencies were mixed against the dollar in early trade, but may strengthen amid signs of a pause in the U.S.-Iran conflict that could underpin appetite for risky assets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The same goes for its fixed income, currencies and commodities financing, the CEO says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The Bank of England's governor Andrew Bailey recently confirmed that Farage raised the issue of cryptocurrency regulation and the related issue of central bank digital currencies with him in September last year.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

His company, Tron, is a blockchain, a global software network on which you can buy and sell crypto currencies.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 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