Definition

Noun: - The official currency of the United Kingdom: The British pound sterling is the fundamental monetary unit of the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). It is subdivided into 100 pence.

Usage

The term "British pound sterling" is used to specify the UK's currency in formal, financial, and international contexts to distinguish it from other currencies also called "pound." - The contract was valued at one million British pound sterling. - Investors are watching the exchange rate of the British pound sterling against the euro.

Advanced Usage

• Sterling (adj): Used to describe something of excellent quality or great value, metaphorically extending from the currency's historical reputation for reliability.
  • He is a man of sterling character.
• Pound Sterling: Often used interchangeably with "British pound sterling," though "sterling" alone can refer to the currency system.
  • The price is fixed in pound sterling.

Variants and Related Words

• Pound (n): The common short form for the British pound sterling.
  • It costs fifty pounds.
• GBP (n): The official ISO 4217 currency code (Great British Pounds).
  • Please make the transfer in GBP.
• Quid (n, informal): A slang term for one or more pounds.
  • It cost me twenty quid.
• Penny (n): The subunit; 100 pence equal one pound sterling.
• Sterling Silver (n): A high-grade silver alloy, historically connected to the currency's name.

Synonyms

• Pound
• UK pound
• Sterling

Related Phrases

• Pound Sterling Area: A historical term for a group of territories that pegged their currencies to the pound sterling.
• Sterling Crisis: A term referring to a period of severe weakness in the value of the British pound.

Noun

1. the basic unit of money in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; equal to 100 pence