drachma

noun drach·ma \ ˈdrak-mə \

Definition of drachma

plural drachmas or drachmai play \-ˌmī\ or drachmae play \-(ˌ)mē, -ˌmī\

1 a : any of various ancient Greek units of weight

b : any of various modern units of weight; especially : ¹dram 1

2 a : an ancient Greek silver coin equivalent to six obols

b : the basic monetary unit of Greece from circa 1831 to 2001

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Recent Examples of drachma from the Web

Fears about the euro flared up again in 2015 as the left-wing Syriza party took control of Greece amid rumblings about a return to the drachma.

— georgi kantchev, WSJ, "Italy and the Euro Crisis: How We Got Here," 29 May 2018
Would Greece leave the euro and return to the drachma?

— a.e. stallings, WSJ, "Athens Today and Yesterday," 28 July 2017
Thanks to the debt crisis, some Greek officials are contemplating dumping the common currency for the drachma.

— david wolman, WIRED, "Dream of Universal Currency Just Won’t Die," 27 Dec. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drachma.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.