currency

noun

cur·​ren·​cy ˈkər-ən(t)-sē How to pronounce currency (audio)
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

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.
Attention is the currency of the sport now, and the Bears flushed a duffel bag full of it down the toilet against Miami. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 But the financial assistance for Argentina, structured in the form of a currency swap, has torn at the president’s MAGA support and frustrated business groups that noted Argentina, an agricultural rival, sold shipments of soybeans to China as talk of a bailout became public. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025 Gold has been a prized asset for over 5,000 years and today is seen as a hedge against inflation, currency devaluation, and geopolitical shocks. Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025 The meeting came nearly a week after Bessent announced a $20 billion financial lifeline that included a currency swap framework with Argentina's central bank aimed at propping up the Argentine peso. Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025 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 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

currency

noun
cur·​ren·​cy ˈkər-ən-sē How to pronounce currency (audio)
ˈkə-rən-
plural currencies
1
: common use or acceptance
2
: money in circulation

More from Merriam-Webster on currency

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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