Definition

1. Noun:
   • The basic unit of money in Great Britain and Northern Ireland: "Pound sterling" is the official currency of the United Kingdom, subdivided into 100 pence.
   • A monetary standard: It can refer to the British currency system itself.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The price is ten pounds sterling. (The cost is ten units of British money.)
  • He exchanged his dollars for pounds sterling at the bank. (He converted his US currency into British currency at the financial institution.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pound sterling" as a formal term: Used in official, financial, or international contexts to distinguish the British currency from other currencies also called "pound" (e.g., the Egyptian pound).
  • The contract must be settled in pounds sterling. (The agreement's payment must be made in British currency.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pound (n): The more common, abbreviated term for the pound sterling.
  • It costs fifty pounds.
• Sterling (n/adj): Can refer to the currency itself or mean "of excellent quality," often used in financial contexts (e.g., sterling silver).
  • Payments must be made in sterling. (Payments must be made in British money.)

Synonyms

• British pound: Another name for the same currency unit.
• GBP: The official ISO 4217 currency code (Great British Pounds).
• Quid (n, informal): A slang term for a pound sterling.

Related Phrases

• Pound sterling area: A historical term for a group of territories that pegged their currencies to the pound sterling.
• Sterling balance: A financial term for an account balance held in pounds sterling.

Related Idioms

• "To be worth a few pounds sterling": To have significant monetary value.
  • That antique vase is worth a few pounds sterling. (That old vase has considerable financial value in British currency.)

Noun

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