euro

¹ American  

[yoor-oh, yur-] / ˈyʊər oʊ, ˈyɜr- /

noun

plural

euros,

plural

euro

1. wallaroo.

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euro ² American  

[yoor-oh, yur-] / ˈyʊər oʊ, ˈyɜr- /

noun

plural

euros, euro

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) the official common currency of 19 European Union nations (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain). It is also the official currency of Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, and the Vatican City. In 1999 the euro was first adopted by 11 nations as an alternative currency in noncash transactions. Then in 2002 the euro fully replaced existing currencies in 12 European Union nations, before being adopted more widely. €

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Euro ³ American  

[yoor-oh, yur-] / ˈyʊər oʊ, ˈyɜr- /

adjective

Informal.

1. European.

   a Euro expert.

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Euro- ⁴ American  

especially before a vowel, Eur-

1. a shortening of European used as a combining form, especially with the meaning “western European,” particularly in reference to the European financial market or the European Economic Community.

   Eurodollar; Eurofarmers.

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euro ¹ British  

/ ˈjʊərəʊ /

noun

1. the official currency unit, divided into 100 cents, of the member countries of the European Union who have adopted European Monetary Union; these are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portgual, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain; also used by Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Kosovo, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Montenegro, Réunion, San Marino, and the Vatican City

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euro- ² British  

/ ˈjʊərəʊ- /

combining form

1. Europe or European

   eurodollar

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euro Cultural  

1. The common currency used in eleven countries of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain). The euro became the official currency of these nations in 1999, but nations were not obliged to phase out their existing currencies until 2002. The expectation is that introduction of the euro will stimulate cross-border investment by eliminating fluctuating exchange rates.

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Etymology

Origin of euro¹

From Ngajuri (an Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Jamestown and Peterborough, South Australia) yuru

Origin of euro²

1970–75; shortening of Eurocurrency

Origin of Euro³

Independent use of Euro-

Example Sentences

In 2008, it had to reverse course rapidly as banks imploded, and again in 2011 as the entire euro system threatened to implode.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

His group estimates a euro to be near $1.18 in the next quarter.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The euro remained weaker against the dollar, showing little reaction after data showed German inflation accelerated as expected in March.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The euro has tumbled since the war started, which tends to make European companies’ exports more competitive.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

To his amazement, he still had some euro notes from his time in Rome.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan