coin

¹ American  

[koin] / kɔɪn /

noun

1. a piece of metal stamped and issued by the authority of a government for use as money.

2. a number of such pieces.

3. Informal. money; cash.

   He's got plenty of coin in the bank.

4. Architecture. quoin.

5. Archaic. a corner cupboard of the 18th century.

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adjective

1. operated by, or containing machines operated by, inserting a coin or coins into a slot.

   a coin laundry.

verb (used with object)

1. to make (coinage) by stamping metal.

   The mint is coining pennies.

2. to convert (metal) into coinage.

   The mint used to coin gold into dollars.

3. to make; invent; fabricate.

   to coin an expression.

4. Metalworking. to shape the surface of (metal) by squeezing between two dies.

verb (used without object)

1. British Informal. to counterfeit, especially to make counterfeit money.

idioms

1. the other side of the coin, the other side, aspect, or point of view; alternative consideration.

2. pay someone back in his / her own coin, to reciprocate or behave toward in a like way, especially inamicably; retaliate.

   If they persist in teasing you, pay them back in their own coin.

3. coin money, to make or gain money rapidly.

   Those who own stock in that restaurant chain are coining money.

COIN ² American  

[koin] / kɔɪn /

noun

1. counterinsurgency.

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coin British  

/ kɔɪn /

noun

1. a metal disc or piece used as money

2. metal currency, as opposed to securities, paper currency, etc

3. architect a variant spelling of quoin

4. to treat a person in the way that he has treated others

5. the opposite view of a matter

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verb

1. (tr) to make or stamp (coins)

2. (tr) to make into a coin

3. (tr) to fabricate or invent (words, etc)

4. informal (tr) to make (money) rapidly (esp in the phrase coin it in )

5. said ironically after one uses a cliché

coin More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing coin

• other side of the coin
• pay back (in someone's own coin)

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Other Word Forms

• coinable adjective
• coiner noun
• miscoin verb
• recoin verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of coin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English coyn(e), coygne, from Anglo-French; Middle French coin, cuigne “wedge, corner, die,” from Latin cuneus “wedge”

Origin of COIN²

co(unter) in(surgency)

Example Sentences

"The rise of AI deepfakes and the dismissal of real footage are two sides of the same coin," said Sofia Rubinson, of misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

And this year he will have a commemorative coin bearing his image, minted to mark America's 250th birthday.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The current “Comeback” storyline is the brighter side of the “AI Doc” coin in that Al’s glitches are surreal and hilarious at worst.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

A commemorative gold coin bearing the image of US President Donald Trump has been approved by a federal arts commission.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

In the brass public telephone vestibule just outside, I drop a coin in the slot and sigh with relief when the operator is able to connect me to Aunt Tess.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse