currency

noun

cur·​ren·​cy ˈkər-ən(t)-sē 

ˈkə-rən(t)-

plural currencies

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

Synonyms of currency

• cash
• money
• coin

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

Specifically, the proposal would eliminate foreign-currency gain or loss on qualifying principal-residence mortgages and increase the de minimis exclusion for personal foreign-currency gains from $200 to $1,000. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Digital currencies, like Bitcoin, are historically volatile and therefore less appealing for entities making large transactions. — Nathan Lee, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

To be sure, efforts to prop up the yen were seen as short-term measures to address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the currency’s weakness. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

The Japanese government's push for pension funds and individuals to invest more in domestic markets is seen as a potential boost for the nation's bonds and currency in the long term. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

curr(ent) entry 1 + -ency

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing currency

• fractional currency
• hard currency

Rhymes for currency

• concurrency
• eurocurrency

Kids Definition

currency

noun

cur·​ren·​cy ˈkər-ən-sē 

ˈkə-rən-

plural currencies

1

: common use or acceptance

2

: money in circulation