dollar

noun

dol·​lar ˈdä-lər 

often attributive

1

a

: any of various basic monetary units (as in the U.S. and Canada) see Money Table

b

: a coin, note, or token representing one dollar

2

a

: thaler

b

: any of numerous coins patterned after the thaler (such as the Spanish peso)

3

: ringgit

4

: money obtained from a specific source

the tourism dollar

Did you know?

In the early 1500s, much of the silver used to mint coins in Europe came from the mountains on the current border of Germany and Czechia. One such German coin was the Joachimsthaler, or Thaler for short, named after the town of Sankt Joachimstal. Shortly afterward the Dutch form daler was borrowed into English and applied to similar coins in the North American colonies. When the United States settled on an official monetary unit in 1785, they chose the name (and spelling) dollar.

Synonyms of dollar

• buck
• one

Examples of dollar in a Sentence

She had to pay hundreds of dollars in auto repairs.

She put a wrinkled dollar down on the counter.

The dollar dropped sharply against the pound.

the strength of the dollar

The dollar is worth more in Mexico.

Recent Examples on the Web

Begich's campaign said staying in the race would have required millions of dollars. — Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

The School Board’s decision to dedicate 90% of these referendum dollars directly to teachers, education professionals and frontline support staff recognizes where our priorities should be. — Roberto Fernandez Iii, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Begich’s campaign said staying in the race would have required millions of dollars. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

My colleague Howard Blume recently wrote about district officials pressing ahead with a multibillion-dollar modernization and rebuilding plan, raising questions about investing in campuses that soon may be shuttered. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Dutch or Low German daler, from German Thaler (now Taler), short for Joachimsthaler, from Sankt Joachimsthal, Bohemia, where thalers were first made

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing dollar

• bang for one's dollar
• bang for the dollar
• dollar-a-year
• dollar cost averaging
• dollar day
• dollar diplomacy
• dollar sign
• dollar signs in one's eyes
• dollar store
• East Caribbean dollar
• half-dollar
• Maria Theresa dollar
• non-dollar
• sand dollar
• see dollar signs
• silver dollar
• silver dollar plant
• Straits dollar
• the dollar
• top dollar
• trade dollar

Rhymes for dollar

• caller
• choler
• collar
• crawler
• faller
• haller
• hauler
• holler
• scholar
• smaller
• squalor
• taller

Kids Definition

dollar

noun

dol·​lar ˈdäl-ər 

1

: a coin (as a Spanish peso) similar to an earlier German silver coin

2

a

: a basic unit of money (as of the U.S. and Canada)

b

: a coin or bill representing one dollar

Etymology

from Dutch daler "silver coin formerly used in Germany," from German Taler (same meaning), shortened from Joachimstaler "a coin made in Sankt Joachimsthal (Saint Joachim's Valley) in Bohemia (a former kingdom in Europe)"