peso

American  

[pay-soh, pe-saw] / ˈpeɪ soʊ, ˈpɛ sɔ /

noun

• pesos
  plural

1. a coin and monetary unit of Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, and the Philippines, equal to 100 centavos.

2. a coin and monetary unit of Uruguay, equal to 100 centesimos.

3. a former monetary unit of Argentina, equal to 100 centavos: replaced by the austral in 1985.

4. a former silver coin of Spain and Spanish America, equal to eight reals; dollar; piece of eight; piaster.

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peso British  

/ ˈpeso, ˈpeɪsəʊ /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit, comprising 100 centavos, of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Philippines; formerly also of Guinea-Bissau, where it was replaced by the CFA franc

2. the standard monetary unit of Uruguay, divided into 100 centesimos

3. another name for piece of eight

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pesos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of peso

< Spanish: literally, weight < Latin pēnsum something weighed, noun use of neuter of pēnsus, past participle of pendere to weigh

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peso pesos

The offering would value Mynt at about $10.7 billion, based on around 66.90 billion shares outstanding after the IPO and the 10 peso offer price.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Recent requests have included Mexican peso designs, medallions and a glittery wand for a Sweet 16 gift.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

That and oil price buoyancy pushed the peso up 10% against the dollar this year despite budgetary travails.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Later dubbed "quantitative easing", such upheavals included the 1980s savings and loan crisis, the first Gulf War, the Mexican peso crisis and - shortly after he had retired - the global credit crisis in 2008.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

I devise myself a peso plan, for the trip in general—food and stuff—but especially for my feet.

From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads

Rafael Garcia, 75, bought ten eggs at a market in the Havana suburb of El Cerro for 1350 pesos.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

An overallotment option of up to 1.20 billion shares could increase the deal size to around 60.9 billion pesos, or $969.8 million, if exercised in full.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The offer price values Mynt at around 441.54 billion pesos, or $7 billion, based on about 66.90 billion shares outstanding after the IPO.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

He said players would pay him 100 pesos or roughly two dollars, which he would split between himself and his mum for their household's groceries.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Enrique saves his other 30 pesos for food.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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