devaluation

[dee-val-yoo-ey-shuhn]

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.

devaluation

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.

Other Word Forms

• minidevaluation noun
• postdevaluation adjective
• predevaluation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of devaluation¹

First recorded in 1910–15; devaluate + -ion

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If this continues, it will be difficult to avoid further overvaluation followed by an inevitable devaluation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As Mr. Gennari reminds us, “this was vitally important cultural work at a time when jazz was still an object of widespread derision, devaluation, and misunderstanding.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The country is running low on the greenbacks used for a big portion of purchases, and which many Venezuelans try to save as insurance against bolivar devaluation.

Read more on Barron's

Practically since it gained independence in 1816, it has been caught in an endless loop of boom, bust, devaluation, default, and inflation.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• decline 
• decrease 
• reduction 
• weakening www.thesaurus.com