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• sterling
  sterling

  adjective

  of, relating to, or noting British money.
• Sterling
  Sterling

  noun

  a city in NW Illinois.

sterling

¹ American  

[stur-ling] / ˈstɜr lɪŋ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or noting British money.

   The sterling equivalent is #5.50.

2. (of silver) having the standard fineness of 0.925.

3. made of silver of this fineness.

   a sterling teapot.

4. thoroughly excellent.

   a man of sterling worth.

   Synonyms:

   first-rate, worthy, honorable, noble

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noun

1. British currency.

2. the standard of fineness for gold and silver coin in the United Kingdom, 0.91666 for gold and 0.500 for silver.

3. Also called sterling silver.  silver having a fineness of 0.925, now used especially in the manufacture of table utensils, jewelry, etc.

4. manufactured articles of sterling silver.

5. sterling flatware.

Sterling ² American  

[stur-ling] / ˈstɜr lɪŋ /

noun

1. a city in NW Illinois.

2. a city in NE Colorado.

3. a male given name.

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sterling ¹ British  

/ ˈstɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. British money

      pound sterling

   2. ( as modifier )

      sterling reserves

2. the official standard of fineness of British coins: for gold 0.91666 and for silver 0.925

3. 1. short for sterling silver

   2. ( as modifier )

      a sterling bracelet

4. an article or articles manufactured from sterling silver

5. a former British silver penny

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adjective

1. (prenominal) genuine and reliable; first-class

   sterling quality

Sterling ² British  

/ ˈstɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. Peter. born 1960, Australian rugby league player: played 18 matches for Australia (1982–88)

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Other Word Forms

• sterlingness
  noun
• sterlingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sterling

1250–1300; Middle English: name of a silver coin ( see star, -ling ¹), with reference to the little star on some of the mintages

Explanation

Sterling is British money, but it also describes anything of very high quality. A sterling report card has all A’s, and sterling manners are needed for a visit with the Queen of England. Sterling is a word for British currency, and although the jury is still out, the word sterling may be from the Middle English word for "star," sterre from the stars that appeared in the design of certain Norman (really old British) coins. Sterling can still refer to money, but it also describes something great. A sterling reputation is a flawless, immaculate reputation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sterling Sterling

There was a specific issue Farage was concerned about - speculation that the Bank of England would push ahead with a limit on holdings of potential sterling stablecoins of between £10,000 and £20,000.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Music: Kim walked down the aisle as Andrea Bocelli sang in his sterling tenor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

Since then, sterling has broadly strengthened and taken advantage of a weaker dollar and is currently near the top of its post-Brexit range.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

The play, drawn directly from transcripts of hearings and other factual material, is an early and sterling example of the documentary-drama genre that has become a staple of contemporary theater.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

The stranger did not share his amusement. "—my former apprentice, Widge, in consideration of which I have accepted the amount of ten pounds sterling."

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Sterling rose against a softer dollar and Commerzbank said Sterling investors potentially faced a volatile period given fiscal policy uncertainty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Sterling has been coming here for two years.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

“Paradise” star Sterling K. Brown and “Slow Horses” lead Gary Oldman are joined by “Task” star Mark Ruffalo and “The Diplomat” co-star Rufus Sewell in taking on Wyle for best drama actor.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

The inimitable Ray Carney, who started out as a minor criminal, is now Sterling Furniture’s “Northeast Regional Dealer of the Month,” a respected businessman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

“My son will not grow up spoiled,” Mrs. Sterling pronounced, as grandly as if she were the one in a fairy tale who got to foretell the future.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• admirable
• excellent
• first-rate
• magnificent
• marvelous
• outstanding
• splendid
• stunning