1
2
a
: a usually flat piece of metal issued by governmental authority as money
b
: metal money
c
: something resembling a coin especially in shape
d
: a unit of a cryptocurrency
These products allow investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without owning the actual coins.—
Lisa Loud
Lisa Loud3
: something used as if it were money (as in verbal or intellectual exchange)
… perhaps wisecracks … are respectable literary coin in the United States …—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)would repay him with the full coin of his mind—Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming4
: something having two different and usually opposing sides
—usually used in the phrase the other side of the coin
5
informal
: money
I'm in it for the coin—Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
coined; coining; coins
see also:
Examples of coin in a Sentence
Noun
I have a dollar in coins.
seeking a job that pays plenty of coin
Verb
The coach coined the phrase “refuse to lose.”
William Shakespeare is believed to have coined many words.
The nation plans to coin more money.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
In lieu of fancy cars, everyone got to the ceremony on pick-up trucks, and were given distinctive, rare Buffalo nickel coins to carry around, to show the security teams when required.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Big Think, 6 Mar. 2026
Corridos tumbados, a term coined by Natanael Cano, gained traction in the late 2010s, just as Junior began creating music.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2026
Kim Chatelain, NOLA.com, 21 June 2017
See All Example Sentences for coin
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.
Noun
However, archaeologists intend to keep looking, as the collection comprises one of the most significant caches of gold coins from this legendary moment in Russian history.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
In lieu of fancy cars, everyone got to the ceremony on pick-up trucks, and were given distinctive, rare Buffalo nickel coins to carry around, to show the security teams when required.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
That idea was put forth way back in 1929 by Fritz Zwicky, the same Fritz Zwicky who coined the term supernova and was the first to theorize the existence of dark matter.
—Big Think, 6 Mar. 2026
Corridos tumbados, a term coined by Natanael Cano, gained traction in the late 2010s, just as Junior began creating music.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The victim told him where to find a bedroom safe and coin jar, which together contained $230.
—Kim Chatelain, NOLA.com, 21 June 2017
See All Example Sentences for coin
Cite this Entry
“Coin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coin. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coin
1 of 3 noun1
: a piece of metal put out by a government authority as money
2
: metal money
three dollars in coin
coin
3 of 3 adjective1
: of or relating to coins
a coin show
2
: operated by coins
a laundromat's coin washers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
