coin of the realm
noun phrase
Eloise Salholz et al.
Did you know?
Coin of the realm gained currency in the English language during the 18th century as a term for the legal money of a country. Coin is ultimately from Latin cuneus, meaning "wedge," and entered English, via Anglo-French, in the 14th century with the meaning "cornerstone" or "quoin." By the latter part of that century, the word was being exchanged as a name for a device or impress stamped on flat pieces of metal used as money and, by extension, for the money itself. Realm entered English in the 13th century with the meaning "kingdom." Its spelling is an alteration of Old French reiame, which is based on the Latin word for "rule" or "government," regimen. In time, realm was generalized as the name for any sphere or domain, and coin of the realm came to signify something having value or influence in a particular sphere.
Examples of coin of the realm in a Sentence
Mitch Zimmer, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Later, the Gold Dinar was the coin of the realm, during the Golden Years of Saracen civilization.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 15 Jan. 2026
For most of the last century and plenty of this one, bowl games were literally and figuratively the coin of the realm in college football.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
Convenience will be the coin of the realm; many doctors’ appointments and emergency room visits will become unnecessary.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
Once a proud coin of the realm, the penny has become a pest.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
Netflix’s approach is informed by its experience in movies, where a big event is the coin of the realm.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coin of the realm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coin%20of%20the%20realm. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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