sterling

1 of 2

noun

ster·​ling ˈstər-liŋ 

1

: British money

2

: sterling silver or articles of it

sterling

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterling

b

: payable in sterling

2

a

of silver : having a fixed standard of purity usually defined legally as represented by an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper

b

: made of sterling silver

3

: conforming to the highest standard

sterling character

a sterling record of achievement

sterlingly adverb

sterlingness noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of sterling in a Sentence

Noun

a drop in the value of sterling

Adjective

a sterling example of democracy at work

credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But these currencies are still bit players in global finance, and their gains have come mainly at the expense of traditional reserve currencies such as the euro, the British pound sterling, and the Japanese yen. —Eswar Prasad, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024

The party curried favor with big business and institutions – for example, via policies to keep British sterling and to stay in NATO – instead of making the breaks required to achieve independence. —Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2024

Adjective

And Steve Kerr, coach of the national team, declined to comment about Flagg’s sterling show, citing NBA rules that prohibit public statements about players who aren’t yet draft eligible. —Ben Golliver, Washington Post, 9 July 2024

In 2008, Shanahan took charge of the commercial airplanes division and oversaw smooth production ramps for the 737 and 787 that spearheaded a period of sterling profitability. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 8 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, silver penny, probably from Old English *steorling, from Old English steorra star + -ling entry 1 — more at star

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sterling

• sterling area
• sterling bloc

Kids Definition

sterling

1 of 2 noun

ster·​ling ˈstər-liŋ 

1

: British money

2

: sterling silver or articles of it

sterling

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to British sterling

2

: being or made of an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper

sterling silver

3

: excellent

Etymology

Noun

so called from the phrase "a pound sterling," meaning the British pound as a monetary unit, but originally "a pound (by weight) of sterlings," from Middle English sterling "silver penny"