special drawing rights

American  

plural noun

1. the reserve asset created through the International Monetary Fund as a supplement to gold and U.S. dollars, for use among the member governments in settling international payments. SDR, S.D.R.

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special drawing rights British  

plural noun

1.  SDRs.  (sometimes capitals) the reserve assets of the International Monetary Fund on which member nations may draw in proportion to their contribution to the Fund

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Etymology

Origin of special drawing rights

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Unusual access: Unlike gold reserves or special drawing rights at the IMF, crypto assets are accessible to everyday investors.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

Low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries can apply to get the financing, which will channel special drawing rights from countries with strong external positions, according to the Fund's website.

From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2022

A promise last year to help poor countries by providing them with special drawing rights, an IMF-issued quasi-currency, has yet to be implemented.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2022

To help with this challenge, Georgieva said the IMF has provided $118 billion in new financing to 87 countries and approved a $650 billion increase in the agency’s special drawing rights, the biggest in history.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2021

The International Monetary Fund had been set Monday to grant Kabul roughly $460 million in special drawing rights, or SDRs, a reserve asset that the government can exchange for hard currency, including U.S. dollars.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2021