currency

noun

plural currencies
Synonyms of currencynext
1
a
: circulation as a medium of exchange
b
: general use, acceptance, or prevalence
a story gaining currency
c
: the quality or state of being current : currentness
needed to check the accuracy and currency of the information
2
a
: something (such as coins, treasury notes, and banknotes) that is in circulation as a medium of exchange
b
: paper money in circulation
c
: a common article for bartering
Furs were once used as currency.
d
: a medium of verbal or intellectual expression
… neither side possessed any currency but clichés …Jan Struther

Examples of currency in a Sentence

A new currency has been introduced in the foreign exchange market. They were paid in U.S. currency. Furs were once traded as currency. The word has not yet won widespread currency. I'm not sure about the accuracy and currency of their information.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the head of Germany’s central bank, who is also a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said Melenchon’s debt cancelation idea would be forbidden under the currency bloc’s rules and could lead to hyperinflation. Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026 And the depreciation of the naira currency has seen the dollar value of company revenues fall within the period. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The Japanese yen surged this week against the dollar, but one investor is already cautioning that the currency's newfound strength may be short-lived. Tobias Burns, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Inflation rose to over 80 percent year-over-year in August, and the value of the currency has been dropping rapidly. James F. Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for currency

Word History

Etymology

curr(ent) entry 1 + -ency

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of currency was in 1624

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Currency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/currency. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

currency

noun
plural currencies
1
: common use or acceptance
2
: money in circulation

More from Merriam-Webster on currency

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster