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

Polls conducted online, in return for monetary rewards, can try to find demographically balanced respondents, but the problem of wariness about giving answers that are critical of the regime remains. —Elizaveta Gaufman, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 2026

But Halpenny added that the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy was widely considered too loose, and that two or three rate hikes were needed to restore bond investors’ confidence in the central bank. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026

The lawsuit seeks not only monetary relief for all potential victims of the data breach, but a court injunction that will, in theory, provide protection from any additional data breaches going forward. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 20 Feb. 2026

The stale report will probably have no impact on monetary policy. —Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 20 Feb. 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
• 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