devaluation

American  

[dee-val-yoo-ey-shuhn] / diˌvæl yuˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an official lowering of the exchange value of a country's currency relative to gold or other currencies.

2. a reduction of a value, status, etc.

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devaluation Cultural  

1. A policy undertaken by a nation to reduce the value of its national currency either in relation to gold or in relation to the currencies of other nations.

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Other Word Forms

• minidevaluation noun
• postdevaluation adjective
• predevaluation noun

Etymology

Origin of devaluation

First recorded in 1910–15; devaluate + -ion

Example Sentences

“As a responsible major power, China has neither the need nor the intention to gain a competitive advantage in international trade through currency devaluation,” Zou said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The immediate reason for the latest round of protests in Iran was a series of currency devaluations, a sign of Iran’s deepening economic crisis as oil prices decline and Western sanctions strangle business activity.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Protests and strikes in Iran over inflation and currency devaluation have spread from the capital, Tehran, to several other cities on a third day of unrest.

From BBC

Investor interest in precious metals has surged in recent months, driven in part by concerns over rising debt levels in major Western economies and fears of currency devaluation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• decline
• decrease
• reduction
• weakening