Definition

1. Noun:
   • A system of money in general use in a particular country: The physical objects (coins and banknotes) used as a medium of exchange.
   • The state or fact of being used or accepted by many people: General acceptance or prevalence, especially of a practice, idea, or term.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Money):
  • The euro is the official currency of many European countries.
  • I need to exchange my local currency for dollars before my trip.
• Noun (Prevalence):
  • That slang term gained currency among teenagers very quickly.
  • The currency of his theories has waned in recent years.

Advanced Usage

• "to gain currency": to become widely accepted, known, or used.
  • The idea of remote work gained significant currency during the pandemic.
• "to give currency to something": to cause something to become widely believed or accepted.
  • The newspaper article gave currency to many unverified rumors.

Variants and Related Words

• Current (adj): Belonging to the present time; now occurring. (e.g., ).
• Currently (adv): At the present time; now.

Synonyms

• Money: The coins or notes used as a medium of exchange.
• Legal tender: Money that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt.
• Prevalence: The fact or condition of being widespread.
• Vogue: The prevailing fashion or style at a particular time.

Related Phrases

• Hard currency: Money from a politically and economically stable country that is widely accepted globally.
  • Investors often prefer assets priced in hard currencies like the US dollar.
• Soft currency: Money from a country with less stable economic or political conditions, which is not widely accepted for international trade.
  • The company faced losses due to fluctuations in the soft currency.
• Currency exchange / Foreign exchange: The business of exchanging the money of one country for that of another.
  • We found a good rate at the currency exchange counter at the airport.

Related Idioms

• "To be common currency": To be an idea, phrase, or belief that is widely known and accepted.
  • The phrase "thinking outside the box" is common currency in business meetings.

Noun

1. the property of belonging to the present time
   • the currency of a slang term
2. general acceptance or use
   • the currency of ideas
3. the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used