as in cash
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
coins and bills are considered legal tender, but postage stamps are not
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legal tender
In early 2022, Nayib Bukele—the president of El Salvador who made Bitcoin legal tender in his country—photoshopped himself wearing a McDonald’s uniform after the cryptocurrency dropped.
—
Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Impact on Customers Though the penny will remain legal tender, everyday cash transactions may increasingly resemble McDonald’s policy, with retailers rounding to the nearest nickel when pennies are unavailable.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
While pennies will remain legal tender, old ones will gradually be taken out of circulation.
—Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
While the penny remains legal tender, banks and merchants are already reporting shortages.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legal tender
Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025
Impact on Customers Though the penny will remain legal tender, everyday cash transactions may increasingly resemble McDonald’s policy, with retailers rounding to the nearest nickel when pennies are unavailable.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
While pennies will remain legal tender, old ones will gradually be taken out of circulation.
—Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
While the penny remains legal tender, banks and merchants are already reporting shortages.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legal tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legal tender
Noun
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Be wary of those who push for your cash without offering sufficient collateral or payback plans.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
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Winners can also choose the lump‑sum cash option.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Those inflated bills are eating into families’ budgets at a time when gas, grocery and housing costs are high and threatening to climb further, limiting many Americans’ ability to save money and build wealth.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Neither coin has been approved by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Council, a nonpartisan group created by Congress to advise the treasury on coin design.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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Jayson Tatum flipped the coin at midfield before the international soccer friendly, and the team watched the match from a luxury box.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For example, if a prediction market company wants to expand internationally to, say Mexico or the Philippines, its users could convert local currency into stablecoins through Latitude’s infrastructure.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Exports have played a critical role in sustaining economic growth, stabilizing the currency, and supporting recovery following the economic crisis of 2022.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Once the appeals are launched, regulatory spotlights are likely to be ramped up with big-bucks settlements paid out to keep the courts and lawmakers out of the matters.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
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Last month, the national average was below three bucks.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legal tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legal%20tender. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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