currency

cur·ren·cy

noun \ˈkər-ən(t)-sē, ˈkə-rən(t)-\

plural cur·ren·cies

Definition of CURRENCY

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

2

a : something (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

d : a medium of verbal or intellectual expression

Examples of CURRENCY

1. A new currency has been introduced in the foreign exchange market.
2. They were paid in U.S. currency.
3. Furs were once traded as currency.
4. The word has not yet won widespread currency.
5. I'm not sure about the accuracy and currency of their information.

First Known Use of CURRENCY

1624

Related to CURRENCY

Synonyms

bread [slang], bucks, cabbage [slang], cash, change, chips, coin, money, dough, gold, green, jack [slang], kale [slang], legal tender, lolly [British], long green [slang], loot, lucre, moola (or moolah) [slang], needful, pelf, scratch [slang], shekels (also sheqels or shekelim or shekalim or sheqalim), tender, wampum

Related Words

coinage, specie; dead presidents [slang], folding money, paper money, scrip; banknote, cashier's check, check, draft, money order, note, promissory note; bill, dollar, greenback; bankroll, capital, finances, funds, roll [slang], wad, wallet; chump change, dibs [slang], dime, mite, peanuts, pittance, shoestring; big bucks, bomb [British], boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet [chiefly British], pile, pot; abundance, means, opulence, riches, treasure, wealth; resources, wherewithal; mad money, petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

Other Monetary Terms

clad, legend, numismatic, obverse, reverse, scrip, series, specie

currency

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In industrialized nations, the portion of the national money supply (consisting of banknotes and government-issued paper money and coins) that does not require endorsement to serve as a medium of exchange. Since the abandonment of the gold standard, governments have not been obligated to repay the holders of currency in any form of precious metal. Consequently, the volume of currency has been determined by the actions of the government or central bank and not by the supply of precious metals. In less-developed societies, or in times of economic scarcity, items such as livestock or tobacco (cigarettes) may serve as currency. See also coinage.