currency
noun
cur·ren·cy
ˈkər-ən(t)-sē 
ˈkə-rən(t)-
plural currencies
1
a
: circulation as a medium of exchange
b
: general use, acceptance, or prevalence
a story gaining currency
c
: the quality or state of being current : currentness
needed to check the accuracy and currency of the information
2
a
: something (such as coins, treasury notes, and banknotes) that is in circulation as a medium of exchange
b
: paper money in circulation
c
: a common article for bartering
Furs were once used as currency.
d
: a medium of verbal or intellectual expression
… neither side possessed any currency but clichés …—
Jan Struther
Jan StrutherExamples of currency in a Sentence
A new currency has been introduced in the foreign exchange market.
They were paid in U.S. currency.
Furs were once traded as currency.
The word has not yet won widespread currency.
I'm not sure about the accuracy and currency of their information.
Recent Examples on the Web
The British pound tanked against major currencies after the vote and is yet to recover to pre-Brexit levels.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Serious cinephiles don’t much care whether or not Cannes hosts the premiere of a film that will shortly be in multiplexes everywhere, but the red-carpet currency of a Cruise-level megastar at the festival is not to be discounted.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 May 2026
Accountability and achievement were the shared currency.
—Jo Self, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
In the early twentieth century, one follower created an international currency with coins featuring Zamenhof in profile; at one point, the tender was accepted by multiple European banks and had account holders in forty-three countries.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for currency
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Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 May 2026
Serious cinephiles don’t much care whether or not Cannes hosts the premiere of a film that will shortly be in multiplexes everywhere, but the red-carpet currency of a Cruise-level megastar at the festival is not to be discounted.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 May 2026
Accountability and achievement were the shared currency.
—Jo Self, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
In the early twentieth century, one follower created an international currency with coins featuring Zamenhof in profile; at one point, the tender was accepted by multiple European banks and had account holders in forty-three countries.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for currency
Cite this Entry
“Currency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/currency. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
currency
noun
cur·ren·cy
ˈkər-ən-sē
ˈkə-rən-
plural currencies
1
: common use or acceptance
2
: money in circulation
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