medium of exchange

noun phrase

: something commonly accepted in exchange for goods and services and recognized as representing a standard of value

Examples of medium of exchange in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike other precious metals, gold is rare enough to be precious but abundant enough to serve as a practical medium of exchange. — Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025 Crypto, by contrast, is merely a medium of exchange whose price reflects only the balance of supply and demand. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025 Iranian currency has become less a medium of exchange than a daily index of national despair. — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 Cryptoassets, and specifically stablecoins, are almost ideally positioned to serve as the medium of exchange for agentic bots and programs. — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for medium of exchange

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medium of exchange was in 1714

Rhymes for medium of exchange

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Browse Nearby Words

medium lay
medium of exchange
medium roast
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Cite this Entry

“Medium of exchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medium%20of%20exchange. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about medium of exchange

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