adjective
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of or relating to money or currency
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of or relating to monetarism
a monetary policy
Synonym Usage
See financial.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monetary
First recorded in 1660–70; from Late Latin monētārius “pertaining to the mint”; see money, -ary
Explanation
If it has to do with money or currency, it’s monetary, like your childhood toy collection that has no monetary value, but you love it nonetheless. The adjective monetary is related to a Latin word that means “mint,” which is not just a refreshing gum or ice cream flavor but, in this case, where money is made. Anything that pertains to money can be described as monetary, like a country whose monetary system consists of metal coins of different denominations or an antiques expert who can tell you the monetary value of the old things in our attic.
Vocabulary lists containing monetary
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1933), List 1
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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.
—Gold prices edged lower but have so far found support above $4,100 a troy ounce as investors await the release of Fed meeting minutes for more cues on the monetary policy outlook.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026
Traders are also awaiting the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting, hoping for fresh clues about its plans for monetary policy as it tries to battle elevated inflation.
From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026
It's "a really interesting line to walk when you have many guests who have the monetary luxury of being able to wear custom designer or archival designer," Bradley said.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
In other remarks, Warsh said the explosion of investment in artificial intelligence has “huge implications for monetary policy.”
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
The government provided monetary subsidies to the villagers to pay their electric bills so that they would use electricity for heating and cooking rather than chopping down trees and burning wood.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
