monetary

adjective

mon·​e·​tary ˈmä-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce monetary (audio)
also ˈmə-
Synonyms of monetary
: of or relating to money or to the mechanisms by which it is supplied to and circulates in the economy
a crime committed for monetary gain
a government's monetary policy
monetarily
ˌmä-nə-ˈter-ə-lē How to pronounce monetary (audio)
also ˌmə-
adverb

Synonyms of monetary

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Examples of monetary in a Sentence

a crime committed for monetary gain Gold was once the basis of the U.S. monetary system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Johnson’s lawyers said that the state withheld evidence of monetary incentive for her testimony. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 What Chile and Brazil show, each in a different way, is central banks building real-time settlement systems that retain monetary sovereignty and preserve systemic stability. — Maghnus Mareneck, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 She was paid $5,000 in 2001 for her testimony, and Johnson's lawyers argue that the state withheld evidence of monetary motivation for the testimony. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 She was paid $5,000 in 2001 for her testimony, and Johnson’s lawyers argue that the state withheld evidence of monetary motivation for the testimony. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monetary

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin monetarius of a mint, of money, from Latin moneta

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monetary was in 1663

Phrases Containing monetary

Rhymes for monetary

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Browse Nearby Words

monetarism
monetary
monetary aggregate
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Cite this Entry

“Monetary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monetary. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

monetary

adjective
mon·​e·​tary ˈmän-ə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce monetary (audio)
also ˈmən-
: of or relating to money
this administration's monetary policy
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