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 of monetary

• financial
• economic
• fiscal

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

As traders await the winners of the US midterm elections to take office early next year, analysts said global markets will likely remain sensitive to changes in tech and monetary policy. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

The path for monetary policy remains in focus, especially after Friday's blowout payrolls report showed that hourly wages continue to grow and implied that the job market is holding up. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

The study looked at 20 industrial facilities’ effects on air quality and public health, finding monetary damages at more than $3 billion annually. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

By April, curl had returned to HackerOne as its reporting platform while keeping monetary rewards eliminated. — Ido Geffen, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmän-ə-ˌter-ē 

also ˈmən-

: of or relating to money

this administration's monetary policy