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

Yoshida, in other words, upheld temporary tariffs that were enacted in order to mitigate the impact of a sudden and very significant shift in US monetary policy, albeit a shift that Nixon caused himself. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 13 May 2025

It is well established that monetary policy actions take several months to have a meaningful impact on the economy. —Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Chinese policymakers last month already promised to ease monetary policy and ramp up support for firms and employees amid trade war escalations. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 12 May 2025

But Jonathan Haskel, an economics professor and a former member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee, advised caution ahead of anything being signed. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 8 May 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