sterling

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noun ster·ling \ˈstər-liŋ\

Definition of sterling

1 : British money
2 : sterling silver or articles of it

See sterling defined for English-language learners

See sterling defined for kids

Examples of sterling in a Sentence

a drop in the value of sterling

Recent Examples of sterling from the Web

The Irish economy is already suffering from a post-referendum fall in sterling, which has hit Ireland’s agri-food business hard.

— The Economist, "How a hard Irish border could return, courtesy of Brexit," 13 July 2017
This is the sterling work in the field, and their median projection is for a 23 percent loss in per capita earning globally by the end of this century (resulting from changes in agriculture, crime, storms, energy, mortality, and labor).

— david wallace-wells, Daily Intelligencer, "When Will the Planet Be Too Hot For Humans? Much, Much Sooner Than You Imagine.," 9 July 2017
Corporates have raised more than £19 billion issuing sterling bonds this year, four times the volume raised during the first half of 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

— simon kennedy, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: Government Seeks to Charm Business," 3 July 2017
Yet, the Chicago Cubs finished the month of June with a 15-13 record thanks to some sterling performances.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "June not an entire swoon for Cubs," 1 July 2017
A left-hander from Luxembourg whose game seems tailor-made for grass, Müller, 34, has made a sterling run before Wimbledon.

— geoff macdonald, New York Times, "Wimbledon: 6 Players to Watch," 30 June 2017
Tyler Dyson’s second start of the season was sterling, giving up one run in six innings.

— mike malloy, miamiherald, "Gators complete sweep of LSU to capture first College World Series title," 27 June 2017
Brice has a 5.47 ERA in 26 ⅓ innings, but had a sterling 3.15 mark as recently as June 12.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Reds notes: former first-rounder Nick Travieso has shoulder surgery," 27 June 2017
STERLING, Va. (AP) — About 5,000 mourners attended Wednesday’s funeral of a Muslim girl whose beating death, blamed by police on a motorist’s road rage, has some people in her community fearing for their safety.

— matthew barakat, The Seattle Times, "Chief: Police testing for sex assault of slain Virginia teen," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sterling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sterling

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

sterling

adjective ster·ling

Definition of sterling

1a : of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterlingb : payable in sterling
2a 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 copperb : made of sterling silver
3 : conforming to the highest standard sterling character a sterling record of achievement

sterlingly

adverb

sterlingness

noun

See sterling defined for English-language learners

Examples of sterling in a Sentence

a sterling example of democracy at work
credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound

Recent Examples of sterling from the Web

Deals are first in sterling debt market since U.K. election Long tenor on AT&T bonds invite 20-year sterling exposure The pall of uncertainty hanging over the U.K. economy in the wake of last week’s election hasn’t shut the sterling bond market.

— hannah benjamin, Bloomberg.com, "AT&T, Ocado Defy U.K. Political Risks to Sell Sterling Bonds," 14 June 2017
Overall, director Patty Jenkins (who also made 2003’s Monster) has found sterling tools for this job.

— josephine livingstone, New Republic, "Wonder Woman Is Propaganda," 6 June 2017
THINGS I’LL NEED FOR THE SEDUCTION OF STERLING ROCHAMBEAU.

— doreen st. félix, The New Yorker, "Playing Hoodoo: Renée Stout and “The Rootworker’s Table”," 27 May 2017
Multiple sterling silver concave dome rings; prices upon request.

— vanessa infanzon, charlotteobserver, "CLT Made: day creations," 9 May 2017
The lawyers tussling over the legality of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration have at least one thing in common: sterling legal pedigrees.

— WSJ, "High-Pedigree Lawyers Lead Sides in Immigration Battle," 6 Feb. 2017
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, to name two, have been sterling gold.

— michael powell, New York Times, "Cam Newton Defends Postgame Behavior at Super Bowl FEB. 9, 2016," 8 Feb. 2016

First Known Use of sterling

15th century

STERLING Defined for English Language Learners

sterling

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noun

Definition of sterling for English Language Learners

: silver that is 92 percent pure
: British money

sterling

adjective

Definition of sterling for English Language Learners

: made of silver that is 92 percent pure
: very good

STERLING Defined for Kids

sterling

play

noun ster·ling \ˈstər-liŋ\

Definition of sterling for Students

1 : British money
2 : sterling silver : articles made from sterling silver

sterling

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adjective ster·ling

Definition of sterling for Students

1 : of or relating to British sterling
2 : being or made of a specific alloy that is mostly silver with a little copper sterling silver
3 : excellent a sterling example