devaluation
Americannoun
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an official lowering of the exchange value of a country's currency relative to gold or other currencies.
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a reduction of a value, status, etc.
noun
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a decrease in the exchange value of a currency against gold or other currencies, brought about by a government Compare depreciation
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a reduction in value, status, importance, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of devaluation
Explanation
Devaluation is when the worth of something is underestimated. If nobody appreciates your corny jokes, you might say, "The devaluation of humor in this family is truly tragic!" You can use the word devaluation for anything that isn't fully appreciated or valued, but it's more often used in an economic context. When a government deliberately lowers the value of its currency, as it compares to other countries, that's devaluation. It's one way to lower the cost of exporting goods, and it sometimes helps repair an ailing economy. Devaluation comes from value, "worth or price," and its Latin source, valere, "be strong."
Vocabulary lists containing devaluation
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Millions with so-called straight jobs shudder at their steady devaluation in the face of artificial intelligence.
From Salon • May 4, 2026
Just over a week ago, the dollar index fell to a four-year low on fears of a more prolonged devaluation in the U.S. currency.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 9, 2026
Protests erupted in Iran last Sunday over inflation and currency devaluation, after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026
But Guidotti said while the benefits of a currency devaluation are temporary, “taxes that start out as temporary become permanent.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
The consequent devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999, and the country posted moderate GDP growth in 2000.
From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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.
