currency
gb/kˈɚənsi/ us/kˈɚənsi/
A2
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Money system of a country
The money that a country uses.
Usage pattern:
[country]'s currency
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'currency' with 'money'. 'Currency' refers specifically to the official system of money for a country, while 'money' is more general.
Synonyms
money (A broader term that can refer to any form of payment, not just official systems.)
Antonyms
barter (An exchange of goods or services without using money.)
Collocations
foreign currency
|local currency
|digital currency
|strong currency
|currency exchange
Themes
business
|economics
|travel
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The euro is the official currency of many European countries.
- Travelers should exchange their currency before arriving.
- The value of the local currency has dropped sharply.
- Bitcoin is considered a digital currency.
- The U.S. dollar is a widely accepted currency around the world.
Learner examples
- The currency in Japan is the yen.
- I need to change my currency before my trip.
- This shop accepts only local currency.
- The dollar is a strong currency.
- We use this currency in our country.
Noun
B2
state
2
State of being accepted or popular
When an idea, style, or word is used and accepted by many people.
Usage pattern:
gain currency / have currency
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'currency' here to mean 'money', but in this sense it refers to acceptance or popularity.
Synonyms
popularity (Refers to being liked or admired by many people; 'currency' here focuses on acceptance or use rather than likability.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Being unknown or not widely used or accepted.)
Collocations
gain currency
|have currency
|lose currency
Themes
culture
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The theory gained currency in academic circles during the 1990s.
- This term no longer has much currency among younger speakers.
- Minimalist design has gained currency over the past decade.
- The rumor quickly gained currency online.
- Such ideas have little currency in modern science.
Learner examples
- This idea has gained currency in recent years.
- That word no longer has much currency.
- The story gained currency among students.
- This style has little currency today.
- His theory quickly gained currency.
Grammar
Expressions
currency exchange
1/kˈɚənsi ɪkst͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Changing money between currencies
A place or process where you change money from one country's type to another's type.
Examples
- We went to a currency exchange to get euros.
- Currency exchange rates can change daily.
digital currency
1/dˈɪd͡ʒɪtəl kˈɚənsi/
fixed phrase
Money stored electronically
Money that exists only in computers and is used online.
Examples
- Bitcoin is a type of digital currency.
- Digital currencies are becoming more popular for online shopping.
foreign currency
1/fˈɔɹən kˈɚənsi/
fixed phrase
Money from another country
Money that is used in another country.
Examples
- Banks often charge fees for exchanging foreign currency.
- Tourists should carry some foreign currency for small purchases.
gain currency
1/ɡˈeɪn kˈɚənsi/
fixed phrase
Become widely accepted
To become accepted or used by many people.
Examples
- The idea gained currency after the report was published.
- This style has gained currency among young designers.