monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmä-nə-ˌter-ē 

also ˈmə-

: of or relating to money or to the mechanisms by which it is supplied to and circulates in the economy

a crime committed for monetary gain

a government's monetary policy

monetarily

ˌmä-nə-ˈter-ə-lē 

also ˌmə-

adverb

Synonyms of monetary

• financial
• economic
• fiscal

Examples of monetary in a Sentence

a crime committed for monetary gain

Gold was once the basis of the U.S. monetary system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both reports, one showing weaker jobs growth and the other sticky but stable inflation, could support easier monetary policy. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025

Objection, Your Honor As billboards and monetary damages have grown, so has opposition to them. —Adam M. Rosen, thehustle.co, 12 Dec. 2025

The bottom line The Fed's latest rate cut brings the benchmark rate to its lowest level since 2022, a clear signal that monetary policy is shifting toward easing rather than restraint. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

If job growth is negative because automation is replacing workers or because the labor force is shrinking owing to immigration policy, then monetary policy can’t solve the problem. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin monetarius of a mint, of money, from Latin moneta

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing monetary

• monetary aggregate
• monetary unit

Rhymes for monetary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmän-ə-ˌter-ē 

also ˈmən-

: of or relating to money

this administration's monetary policy