monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmä-nə-ˌter-ē 

 also  ˈmə-

: of or relating to money or to the mechanisms by which it is supplied to and circulates in the economy

a crime committed for monetary gain

a government's monetary policy

monetarily

ˌmä-nə-ˈter-ə-lē 

 also  ˌmə-

adverb

Synonyms

• dollars-and-cents
• financial
• fiscal
• pecuniary
• pocket

Examples of monetary in a Sentence

a crime committed for monetary gain

Gold was once the basis of the U.S. monetary system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stocks Cling To Gains After Fed Hold Major U.S. stock indexes held onto slim advances Wednesday after the monetary policy update, as the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was up about 80 points, or 0.2%, by late afternoon. —Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Investors will get more clues on the state of the economy Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve releases its latest monetary policy decision and its quarterly Summary of Economic Projections. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 June 2025

Any variance between the most bearish and most bullish officials might hold a key to the future of U.S. monetary policy. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025

Whereas many of its counterparts worldwide are embarking on a rate-cutting path to ward off slowing growth and rising prices as a result of American protectionism, economists expect US growth to slow but inflation to quicken, a combination that leaves no clear path for monetary policy. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin monetarius of a mint, of money, from Latin moneta

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing monetary

• monetary aggregate
• monetary unit

Rhymes for monetary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmän-ə-ˌter-ē 

 also  ˈmən-

: of or relating to money

this administration's monetary policy