loonie

noun

loon·​ie ˈlü-nē How to pronounce loonie (audio)
Canada
: a coin worth one Canadian dollar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The slide of the Canadian dollar, known as the loonie — for the bird on the one-dollar coin — will also play a prominent role as winter approaches. Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2022 On every visit, Ms. Dopp also received a new loonie from Mr. MacDonald. New York Times, 11 Mar. 2022 If the energy markets are doing okay, so too is the loonie. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2020 Photographer: Hong Yoon-Gi/AFP via Getty Images Investor anxiety that’s swept the globe over the coronavirus extended to Canadian stocks and the loonie after a second person in Toronto tested positive for the illness. Shelly Hagan, Bloomberg.com, 29 Apr. 2020 His suggestion that journalists have an ax to grind and are obsessed with identity politics, money in politics and the desirability of Scandinavian-style socialism sounds a lot like the complaints of conservatives who are deemed right-wing loonies. WSJ, 18 Mar. 2020 And the Canadian loonie sliding in value against the American dollar has local players making bets on even more American film and TV production headed to Vancouver once the coronavirus pandemic ends. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2020 But kudos to Atkins for working around the loonies and standing up to the mighty governor. Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2019 But the cost to protect against loonie losses has skyrocketed after reports the U.S. would withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement gave investors pause and thrust the prospect of a stand-pat BOC into the spotlight. Alexandria Arnold, Bloomberg.com, 16 Jan. 2018 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

from the image of a loon on the obverse of the coin

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loonie was in 1987

Dictionary Entries Near loonie

Cite this Entry

“Loonie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loonie. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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


Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2

  • a pencil broken in half on top of a test answer sheet
  • The business’s new computer system proved not to be a panacea.
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY