legal tender

noun

: money that is legally valid for the payment of debts and that must be accepted for that purpose when offered

Examples of legal tender in a Sentence

Soon after France adopted the euro, the French franc ceased to be legal tender. coins and bills are considered legal tender, but postage stamps are not
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 law leans on constitutional authority: Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution allows states to adopt gold and silver as legal tender. Luciano Duque, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025 For decades, the U.S. has operated on fiat currency, and while federal law already recognizes U.S. gold and silver coins as legal tender, their actual commercial use has been rare and logistically challenging. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 Pennies will remain legal tender and can still be used or exchanged at banks, credit unions, and Coinstar kiosks in Ohio and nationwide. Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 El Salvador's 2021 adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender marked an early challenge to dollar hegemony. Arafat Kabir, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for legal tender

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of legal tender was circa 1730

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Cite this Entry

“Legal tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legal%20tender. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

legal tender

noun
: money that the law authorizes for paying debts

Legal Definition

legal tender

noun
: money that is legally valid for the payment of debts and that must be accepted for that purpose when offered

More from Merriam-Webster on legal tender

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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