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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

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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

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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

USC still turned the sterling field position into points.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

Of such solid stuff was the pound sterling made that nobody seems to have asked for an inflation-escalator clause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Former Census Bureau senior executive Amy O'Hara called the paper an abuse of the agency's "sterling reputation for high-quality analysis."

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Within a month, all his personal credit cards were maxed out and he owed friends and other lenders—who had approved him when he had a sterling credit history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

“It’s sterling silver. I wish I could’ve gotten you gold to match. But at least this one’s stronger.”

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Sterling rose to a one-month high against the euro following upwardly revised U.K. economic growth data and after Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised fiscal discipline and improved ties with the EU.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Sterling rose to a one-month high against the euro after upwardly revised U.K. economic growth data and fiscal promises from Prime Minister Burnham.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

“It really makes a big difference during these wet years that we capture as much of that water as possible,” said Sterling Klippel, assistant deputy director of the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sterling was made an MBE for services to racial equality in sport.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

The head was in the midst of about fifty large, artificial earthen mounds—the ruins, Sterling concluded with excitement, of a previously unknown Maya civic center.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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Related Words

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