devaluation

American

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

noun

an official lowering of the exchange value of a country's currency relative to gold or other currencies.
a reduction of a value, status, etc.

devaluation Cultural

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

Etymology

Origin of devaluation

First recorded in 1910–15; devaluate + -ion

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.

The devaluation of that nuance is worse than the loss of any award.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

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 • Dec. 30, 2025

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.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

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

Economic activity contracted about 7% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso devaluation in late 1994.

From The 1996 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