ˈkər.ənsē, ˈkə.rə-, -si noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Medieval Latin currentia flowing, from Latin current-, currens (present participle of currere to run) + -ia
1.
a. : circulation as a medium of exchange
the currency of these coins
b. : circulation : general use : general acceptance : the fact of being commonly accepted, used, and repeated : prevalence
a story that enjoyed wide currency
a version that gained currency
— used chiefly of reports, sayings, and ideas
c. : the time of such currency : the time during which something is current
a test to ensure that he can do a satisfactory weld … throughout the currency of the work — S.C.Robertson
2.
a. : something that is in circulation as a medium of exchange including coin, government notes, and bank notes
the silver currency
the note currency
the use of beads as minor currency in Africa — advt
b. : paper money in circulation
the gift purse contained both coin and currency
c.
(1) : the amount of paper and metallic money in circulation
(2) : the amount of paper money in circulation
d. : a common article for bartering
tobacco being the currency of the colony
furs as currency in dealing with the natives
e. : a medium of intellectual exchange or expression
ideas are the currency of the few — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
neither side possessed any currency but clichés — Jan Struther
sadism is the currency in which every activity is expressed when its organized forms are … frustrated — Abram Kardiner
f. : a set of values and designations used in certain British colonies instead of the legal values and proper designations of the English coinage system
six pence in currency equals three pence in sterling
3. : a native-born Australian
his currency sons and daughters