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.
The Bears traded away a massive amount of draft currency, sending the 49ers a four-pack of picks — Nos. 3, 67 and 111 in that year’s draft plus a 2018 third-rounder — to slide up one peg to No. 2 on the draft board to draft Mitch Trubisky, a quarterback at North Carolina. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025 In reaction, investors are bolstering their portfolio defenses, diversifying assets away from the U.S., adding to short-term Treasurys, stocking up on gold and seeking currency hedges amid fear that the risk for both the economy and the stock market is to the downside. Sarah Min, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 Their faces have appeared on currency, Streets bear their names, children learn about them in school. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 Modern college football players like Sanders and Travis Hunter aren’t just athletes—they’re content ecosystems driving conversation, shaping narratives, and delivering cultural currency. Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 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 1 May. 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
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