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.
The dinner occurred squarely within the central bank’s communications blackout period, which bars Fed officials from commenting publicly on economic developments or monetary policy in the days around a meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
"The persistence of structural primary budget deficits until 2029 may require tighter monetary policy than stipulated by the baseline scenario," the central bank said.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
In a statement, Bowman said she didn’t share her views on monetary policy at the dinner.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
On Wednesday, Kevin Warsh spoke with reporters after the Federal Open Market Committee completed its first monetary policy meeting under his leadership.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
There is no monetary system in place, so rice is used as currency.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
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.
